Catherine Connolly Elected Irish President: Mixed Reactions to Her Views
Independent TD Catherine Connolly secured a landslide victory in the Irish presidential election, winning 63% of the vote. Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys received less than half of Connolly’s votes, and Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin received 7%. The high turnout of 46% was potentially influenced by a campaign encouraging voters to spoil their ballots, which came in at a significantly higher percentage than usual. Connolly’s win marked a historic moment, the third woman to be elected president and the largest margin of victory in presidential history. The results were seen as a potential shift in the political landscape.