Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly, who secured the backing of Ireland's left-leaning parties has won the country's presidential election in a landslide victory.
Connolly won 63 per cent of first-preference votes, defeating her rival Heather Humphreys, of the centre-right party Fine Gael.
The 68-year-old president-elect said she would champion diversity and be a voice for peace and one that "builds on our policy of neutrality".
Connolly is well-known for being outspoken in criticising Israel over the war in Gaza.
In Ireland, the president's role is not that of an executive office or a policymaker, but it is the only national office elected directly by citizens.
So who is she and what role will she play on a global stage?
Who is Catherine Connolly?
Catherine Connolly is a former barrister who has served as a lawmaker in Ireland since 2016.
Born in Galway, she began her career in politics when she was elected as councillor in 1999 and became Mayor of the city in 2004.
In 2016, she was elected as Independent Teachta Dála for Galway West, which is a position in the lower house of Irish Parliament.
Although Connolly served as deputy speaker of Ireland's lower house after being first elected in 2016, her win was widely viewed as continuing the recent trend of choosing a more independent president based on the candidate's values.
The politician has garnered the backing of a range of left-leaning parties, including Sinn Féin, the Labour Party and the Social Democrats.
Connolly also benefited from the failure of the campaigns of other candidates she ran against.
Heather Humphreys was not the first choice to run for her party Fine Gael, and Fianna Fáil's pick, former Gaelic football coach Jim Gavin, dropped out of the race due to a financial scandal.
Though Gavin had stopped campaigning, his name remained on the ballot paper because of his late withdrawal from the race.
He won 7 per cent of first preference votes and the electoral commission said there was a "significantly higher than normal" number of spoiled ballots as a result.
Outspoken views on Gaza, Irish neutrality
In September, Connolly drew criticism for calling Hamas “part of the fabric of the Palestinian people”.
Prime Minister Micheal Martin has criticised her for appearing reluctant to condemn the militant group's actions on October 7, 2023.
She later maintained that she “utterly condemned” Hamas’s actions, while also criticising Israel for carrying out what she called a genocide in Gaza.
She told the BBC that when she canvassed voters, Gaza was "top of the list of their concerns".
Connolly has also said she wants to defend Ireland's tradition of military neutrality.
During her campaign she said there should be a referendum on a government plan to remove the conditions for the deployment of Irish soldiers on international missions.
As well as her opposition to the war in Gaza, she has also warned against the European Union's growing "militarisation" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
She has also said she would love to see Irish unity in her lifetime and would make Northern Ireland the first place she visits in an official capacity if elected.
"I will be a president who listens, who reflects and who speaks when it's necessary. Together we can shape a new republic that values everybody," Connolly said in a speech at Dublin Castle following her victory.
What role does the Irish President play?
The role of the Irish president is widely a ceremonial one with modest constitutional functions.
The president serves as a figurehead who often speaks on a global stage and welcomes other heads of states to the country.
Bills must be signed by the Irish president but they do not have veto powers.
The president is named the supreme commander of the Armed Forces but has no power over defence policy.
However, the president does have a few discretionary powers.
They can refer a bill to the Supreme Court or a referendum and can refuse to dissolve the lower house of parliament if the prime minister has ceased to remain a majority.
The Taoiseach, also known as the Head of Government or Prime Minister, has executive authority of Ireland.
The current Taoiseach is Micheal Martin, who took office in January of this year following the 2024 general election.
A 'significant shift' in Irish politics
Parties on the left celebrated the results as a significant shift in Irish politics.
"We have seen a real appetite for the change that Catherine represents," said Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik.
"We believe this really does mean a new sort of politics is possible, that we can now realise the ambition that I talked about a year ago: The real prospect of a centre-left-led government after the next general election."
Connolly will succeed Michael D Higgins, who has been president since 2011, having served the maximum two seven-year terms.
She will be Ireland’s 10th president and the third woman to hold the post.
The result was a boost to hopes among the previously divided left-wing opposition, led by Sinn Féin, of building a block capable of ending their centre-right rivals' century-long grip on power.
Political analysts caution that such cohesion will be more challenging when the parties are in competition in a parliamentary election due by 2030.
An Ireland Thinks polling-day survey found only 51 per cent of Connolly voters would vote for a left-wing alliance.
ABC/Wires
