Main points
- Catherine Connolly has been elected the 10th president of Ireland in a landslide win over Heather Humphreys
- With all 43 constituencies declared, the Independent candidate took a 63 per cent share of votes. Find your constituency on our results page
- The number spoiled votes reached unprecedented levels
Key reads
- Fintan O’Toole: Catherine Connolly deserves her landslide victory, but it’s a hollow crown
- Election Daily podcast: Catherine Connolly wins big on a disastrous day for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil
- What went wrong in the Heather Humphreys campaign?
- Pat Leahy: Today’s result cannot be without consequence for Martin and Harris
With that, our live coverage of the 2025 presidential election results comes to a close.
Catherine Connolly has been elected the 10th president of Ireland in a decisive win over Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys.
Thank you for joining us.
‘We can shape a New Republic,’ says president-elect
Catherine Connolly spoke about a new movement in Irish politics that grew out of her campaign. She told the audience she would be “a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, articulates the existential threat posed by climate change”.
“We can shape a new Republic together,” she said.
Jack Horgan Jones writes: Addressing the crowd in Dublin Castle, the president-elect promised to be a president for all people in the country, those who had voted for her and those who had not. She paid tribute to Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys.
She thanked all the parties, TDs and Senators who supported her. She said she would be “an inclusive president” and would make no distinction on basis of votes, but would be a president who listens and reflects, who builds on the policy of neutrality, and speaks of the challenge of climate change.
“My message is use your voice in every way we can because our Republic and our democracy needs constructive questioning,” she said, returning to the concept of building of a new Republic, a theme that she repeatedly referred to on the campaign trail.
Humphreys thanked those who voted for her, to Fine Gael and to her campaign team. “I know that Catherine will be a president for all of us – Uachtarán don gach duine.”
Catherine Connolly elected
Catherine Connolly elected as 10th president
Catherine Connolly has been elected the 10th president of Ireland following a landslide victory in the election to decide the successor to Michael D Higgins.
The official declaration of the results from the 43 constituencies was announced in Dublin Castle shortly after 7pm, with an emphatic margin of victory for the Galway West TD. The announcement was made by returning officer Barry Ryan.
Total poll was 1,656,436. Invalid votes was 213,738. It left 1,472,698 votes. Quota was 721,350.
Ms Connolly was comfortably elected on the first count with 914,143 votes.
Ms Humphreys had 424,987 votes.
Jim Gavin won 103,568 votes.
Ms Connolly won 63 per cent of the vote, the highest since the office of president was established in 1938. Her rival Heather Humphreys won a little under 30 per cent of the vote, with 7 per cent of the votes going to Jim Gavin, the Fianna Fáil candidate who ended his campaign in late September.
A significant feature of the election was also a historically high number of spoiled votes, accounting for 12.9 per cent of the ballot or 213,738 votes.
Ms Connolly (68) is the third woman to be elected president after Mary Robinson in 1990 and Mary McAleese in 1997.
A clinical psychologist and barrister, the Galway politician entered politics in the late 1990s and was elected to Galway City Council for the Labour Party in 1999. She served as mayor of Galway in 2004.
Connolly left Labour in 2006 after being blocked by the party in her bid to join Michael D Higgins, then a Galway TD and the man she is succeeding as President, as his running mate in a bid for a Dáil seat in 2007.
She was elected to the Dáil as an Independent TD in 2016.
In 2020 she became the first woman elected the Dáil’s leas cheann comhairle or deputy speaker, bringing her a higher profile in recent years.
The left-wing Connolly is known for her outspoken views on Irish neutrality, women’s rights and the Israel-Gaza conflict.
She announced her bid for the presidency in July.
Taoiseach and Tánaiste open to change in nominating process
Cormac McQuinn reports: Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the system for nominating presidential election candidates is “a bit restrictive” and he is “open to change” in the area.
Presidential hopefuls need nominations from 20 Oireachtas members or four Councils if they are to get on the ballot paper.
Just three candidates were nominated for this year’s election.
Earlier Tánaiste Simon Harris said he too would be open to a conversation about changing the thresholds for nominating candidates.
Many people that spoiled votes in the election wrote in conservative campaigner Maria Steen’s name. She fell short of securing a nomination through the Oireachtas route getting 18 of the 20 names required.
In an interview with RTÉ News, Mr Martin was asked about the high level of spoiled votes and what he believed was behind that.
He said: “after every election I think the people are sovereign. We have to listen to the people and I think the size of that spoiled vote number is a concern that we have to delve into a bit more and analyse.”
Mr Martin added: “Maybe the system is too restrictive although I think there’s been criticism of the main parties that is absolutely unwarranted because we have a much more fragmented political system now today than say we would have had say 30 years ago or 20 years ago.
“Nonetheless the system is a bit restrictive in terms of how one gets nominated for president. We’re open to change but we have to work it through with other parties.”
He also said: “we would be open however to enabling people to get nominated and perhaps in an easier manner.”
Mr Martins said Independent TD Catherine Connolly had an “emphatic” win and he congratulated her.
He offered commiserations to Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys and paid tribute to her and Fianna Fáil’s candidate Jim Gavin for their “courage” in putting their names forward.
Mr Gavin stopped campaigning three weeks ago but his name remained on the ballot paper.
Mr Martin wished Ms Connolly well saying she “has been a very capable parliamentarian and I have no doubt she will be a very effective president for the people of this country.”
Dublin Bay North produces another emphatic Connolly victory
There was substantial backing for Catherine Connolly in Dublin Bay North where she secured almost two thirds of the vote at 64.58 per cent of first preferences.
Marie O’Halloran reports: Heather Humphreys got just over a quarter of the electorate’s support with 26.77 per cent while Jim Gavin received 8.64 per cent
Three of the 43 constituencies have yet to declare: Dublin North West; Kildare South and Waterford.
Dublin South Central tilts heavily towards Connolly
In the traditionally left leaning constituency of Dublin South Central, Catherine Connolly received 79 per cent of first preference votes (18,750), Heather Humphreys on 16 per cent (3,723) and Jim Gavin on five per cent (1,266).
Sarah Burns reports: More people spoiled their ballot here (5,585) than voted for the Fine Gael candidate. Turnout was 41 per cent in the constituency which covers areas such as Ballyfermot, Cherry Orchard, Inchicore, Drimnagh, Crumlin, Kimmage, Walkinstown, Inchicore, Chapelizod and Rialto.
Catherine Connolly has now arrived at Dublin Castle
President-elect Catherine Connolly has just arrived in Dublin Castle and is being embraced by her supporters, including leading members of left parties.
Wearing a grey and black coat, Ms Connolly has been slowly moving through the hall, talking to supporters and to political colleagues.
Some interesting statistics from counts already in
Dublin Mid-West had the highest percentage of spoiled votes at 20 per cent.
The Connolly share of vote was highest in Galway East at 76.8 per cent. Donegal was next with 75 per cent.
Jim Gavin’s highest share of vote was in Dublin Fingal East where he got 10 per cent.
Heather Humphreys’ highest share of the vote so far is in her home constituency of Cavan-Monaghan with 58.5 per cent of the vote.
Follow the counts, constituency by constituency, on our election page.
Taoiseach will now travel from Cork to Dublin for election of president
Jack Horgan-Jones writes: Taoiseach Micheál Martin will in fact be in Dublin Castle for the declaration of the vote this evening.
Mr Martin’s absence was put to Tánaiste Simon Harris earlier on Saturday, while Social Democrat’s leader Holly Cairns said she was “surprised” that the Taoiseach was not in Dublin Castle and that it wasn’t too late for him to change his mind.
A spokesman for Mr Martin said he had been due to be on the 6.1 news but could not both do that and travel to Dublin Castle in time, so had pulled out of the news appearance and was now travelling up from Cork.
Humphreys and Connolly to meet for gin and tonic
Mark Hennessy reports: Heather Humphreys, speaking earlier at the Cavan/Monaghan count centre in Ballyhaise said “the first thing I want to say is congratulations to Catherine. We’re very, very fortunate to live in a democracy.
“And when Catherine takes office, she’ll be a president for all of us. And she will be my president, And I really want to wish her every success. And I want to wish her well,” she declared.
The two, she said, had spoken privately on the margins of one of the television debates: “We’re both agreed that whatever the outcome, the two of us would have a gin and tonic ... We’re both partial to a gin and tonic.”
Unionists shocked by level of sectarian abuse during election, Humphreys says
Mark Hennessy reports: Unionists in Northern Ireland have been shocked by the level of sectarian abuse that was levelled during the presidential campaign, wondering “what hope have the rest of us”, Heather Humphreys has said.
Speaking at the Cavan/Monaghan count centre in Ballyhaise, Fine Gael’s defeated presidential candidate said she had faced sustained sectarian abuse during the campaign, though her campaign team had protected her from much of it.
The Ulster Presbyterian came under attack early in the campaign when much was made of her husband’s membership 50 years ago of the Orange Order – a membership that lapsed once the Troubles started.
She said the level of sectarian abuse expressed against her online was “very difficult”.
“My family and I, but especially my family, were subjected to some absolutely awful sectarian abuse. I was disappointed, because as a country I thought we had moved on from that.
“As a country, there needs to be a greater understanding of others and other traditions in this country,” said Humphreys.
Read the full report here
Political leaders have arrived in Dublin Castle ahead of the official announcement of the result this evening.
If you have a few minutes read Fintan for wise insights
Fintan O’Toole explains the maze on the mazey route Catherine Connolly must travel if she speaks for the established State and also represent radical views and those who are disenchanted.
Níl mórán spóirt sna hionaid comhairimh um thráthnóna!
Taoiseach congratulates Catherine Connolly
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has issued a statement in the last few minutes congratulating the Independent candidate on her victory. He said she had run a successful and impactful campaign.
“I would like to congratulate Catherine Connolly on what will be a very comprehensive election victory. It is clear she will be the next president of Ireland.
“Catherine ran a successful and impactful campaign.
“She has secured a clear mandate to represent the people of Ireland as Uachtarán na hÉireann over the next seven years.
“The people have made their choice, and I have no doubt Catherine Connolly will serve the country well.
“As Taoiseach, I look forward to working with the new president in the time ahead as Ireland continues to play a significant role on the global stage, and as we look forward to hosting the EU presidency in the second half of 2026.
“I also pay tribute to the other candidates who put themselves forward for election, Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin.
“It takes great courage to put yourself forward for the highest office in the land, and both are people with a long history of public service and community involvement.”
Cavan-Monaghan is sole constituency Humphreys wins
With 39 of the 43 constituencies now having completed their counts, the time is nearing for Catherine Connolly to be officially declared as the 10th president of Ireland.
Her rival Heather Humphreys has won only one of those constituencies, in her home base of Cavan-Monaghan, with 58.5 per cent of the vote.
Most of the political leaders have arrived in Dublin Castle at this stage, with only Ms Connolly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin yet to arrive. Mr Martin is travelling to the capital.
Halfway point of the count
We have reached the halfway point, with 22 of the 43 constituencies now counted.
The results show Catherine Connolly is on 63 per cent, Heather Humphreys on 29 per cent and Jim Gavin on 7.5 per cent. Spoiled votes are 13.2 per cent. Turnout is 45.2.
Follow the counts, constituency by constituency, on our election page.
The picture so far
With 14 of the 43 constituencies counted, Catherine Connolly has a 63 per cent share of the vote, while Heather Humphreys is just under 30 per cent.
Follow the counts, constituency by constituency, on our election page.
Dublin Fingal West count results
Marie O’Halloran has the details of this latest count from a key Dublin constituency. The pattern of north city and north county constituencies has been really strong support for Connolly.
Total electorate: 50,512
Total poll: 23,504
Turnout: 46.53 per cent
Invalid ballot papers: 3,119
Valid poll: 20,385
Catherine Connolly: 67.96 per cent (13,853)
Heather Humphreys: 22.86 per cent (4,659)
Jim Gavin: 9.19 per cent (1,873)
We have now 10 constituencies that have completed their counts. You will find the details of all the counts as they come in on our election page.
Fianna Fáil TD criticises party leadership for botched presidential campaign
A Fianna Fáil TD has criticised the party leadership for its abandoned presidential campaign, saying it has done damage to the party.
Erin McGreehan, who represents Louth, says thousands of the party members were disenfranchised by Jim Gavin ending his campaign.
“The morale is low and grassroots’ support is very worrying,” she said.
She also criticised the party leadership for stating in public they would back Heather Humphreys, following Mr Gavin’s departure.
Taoiseach and party leader Micheál Martin was among those who said he would support her candidacy.
“Many of us explicitly stated at that long parliamentary party meeting that we did not want our representatives coming out and supporting another person. I commend those who didn’t,” she said.
“The next thing for our party is now to get on with the business of actually making this country work, to make sure our critical infrastructure is built. I’m sick of excuses.”]
Ms McGreehan congratulated Catherine Connolly whom, she said, ran an excellent campaign.
“She spoke to people what it seemed to be from a really genuine place. Being real resonates with people. I don’t believe everyone who voted for her voted because they believed in everything she said but they believed she was real and genuine.
Three more Dublin first counts
Dublin South-West, Dublin West and Dún Laoghaire have completed their first counts, with Catherine Connolly getting more than 60 per cent of the vote in the first two and a little more than 50 per cent in Dún Laoghaire.
You will find the details of all the counts as they come in on our election page.
Leo Varadkar congratulates Connolly and commiserates with Humphreys
Cork South Central first count puts Connolly at 65 per cent
The first constituency in the State to complete its first count is Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s home base of Cork South Central. Catherine Connolly has won 65 per cent of the vote here, with 27,750 votes compared with 29.23 per cent for Heather Humphreys, with 12,111 votes. Jim Gavin won 7 per cent, garnering 3,044 votes.
We have full details of the all the counts on our election page.
North Dublin councillor says Connolly has started a ‘movement’
Cormac McQuinn has been speaking to Dean Mulligan, the Independent councillor in Dublin Fingal.
Mulligan – an ally of former TD and MEP Clare Daly – said the expected presidential election winner Catherine Connolly has “created a movement” and that the passion on the ground for the Independent candidate has been “awe-inspiring”.
He said: “We have people from all political backgrounds and none and that was really inspiring for me as someone in politics just to see people get involved and get intrigued about a campaign for a presidential election.
“In many instances people think, ‘Oh the presidency, there’s no power’ or whatever. What we’ve seen on the ground was a passion for Catherine and for the politics and it was just amazing, really awe-inspiring.”
Questions were raised during the campaign about a trip Ms Connolly took to Syria in 2018 along with Ms Daly, her fellow former TD and MEP Mick Wallace and then Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan.
At the time of the trip, dictator Bashar al-Assad was still in power.
Ms Connolly said the purpose of the trip was “fact-finding”, that she “met no member of government” and did not ever “utter one word of support for Assad”.
Independent councillor Mr Mulligan said Ms Daly has not been involved in the presidential election campaign.
On Ms Connolly’s association with Ms Daly and Mr Wallace, he said they worked together on issues like penal reform, something he said former Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív was also involved in.
He said: “You have to work with people to get things done from all political backgrounds.”
Mr Mulligan highlighted the mandate Ms Daly and Mr Wallace had as elected representatives while noting that they are “not in politics any more”.
He said you could pick “any candidate in any election who has a different or polarising view to anyone else and just because they’re polar opposites to what you believe is right, they’re still elected on their brief and their platforms. And Catherine galvanised people with all politics.”
Simon Harris congratulates Catherine Connolly on her victory
Simon Harris has posted on X conceding the election to the Independent candidate and thanking the Fine Gael candidate, Heather Humphreys.
More from the Humphreys’s concession interview
Mark Hennessy has more details of what Heather Humphreys told reporters in Monaghan following her acceptance that Catherine Connolly would win the election.
On Connolly as president: “Catherine will be a president for all of us, and she will be my president, and I really would like to wish her all the very best.”
On her decision to stand: “I have no regrets. I stepped up to the plate, and that’s what democracy is about. It’s about people putting their name on the ballot paper, about people going forward. So I have absolutely not one regret.”
Lowlights of the campaign: “I found the piece about sectarianism very difficult. My family and I were subject to some absolutely awful sectarian abuse. I was disappointed, because as a country, I thought we’ve moved on from that, and I do think there needs to be a greater understanding of other traditions in this country.
“Perhaps that’s something that maybe I can contribute towards, because there’s a lot of misunderstanding out there. And if we’re ever to have a united Ireland, we have to respect all traditions.”
On spoiled votes: “It’s unfortunate that people spoil their votes, but obviously they feel upset that there wasn’t more candidates on the ballot paper.”
On what happens next: “I intend to go back and enjoy some quality time with family. I have a seven-week-old grandson whom I really haven’t seen much of, and I’m very fond of my garden. I can assure you, I have a lot of work to do because I haven’t been there for well over two months.”
Heather Humphreys concedes and says Connolly will be next president
Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys has said she accepts that Catherine Connolly will be the next president of Ireland.
“I want to congratulate Catherine on becoming the next president of Ireland. And can I just say that Catherine will be a president for all of us, and she will be my president, and I really would like to wish her all the very, very best. We will reflect on the campaign, what went right and what went wrong.”
Pat Leahy’s snap analysis
Our political editor describes it as the biggest landslide since the 2011 ‘earthquake’ election.
“How she navigates the relationship with a Government she so clearly believes is pursuing the wrong policies now brings a new uncertainty – and possibly conflict – into Irish politics,” he writes.
He also explores what the implications are for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil and unpacks what the high volume of spoiled votes might be saying.
Who will win the byelection in Galway West?
Following Catherine Connolly’s election as president, a byelection must be held in Galway West within six months.
The question is: will the momentum of the Connolly campaign sustain into that election?
In the general election last November, Connolly finished fourth in the first count but was the second person elected after Sinn Féin’s Mairéad Farrell.
The person who finished sixth was the Independent Ireland candidate, Connemara-based Noel Thomas. Fine Gael Senator Seán Kyne finished seventh.
Connolly’s successor candidate could be the Independent councillor Eibhlín Seoighthe, who was the joint chairperson of her campaign in the constituency.
Seoighthe was in the Social Democrats until last year but left the party. Her departure came around the time Dublin Bay South TD Eoin Hayes was readmitted to the party but she did not explicitly link her decision with his readmission.
Thomas would be considered a contender but his base is in Connemara and he would have to attract votes in the main population centre of Galway, plus the suburban towns to the east of the city.
There have been rumours that former Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív could stand. In contrast to many party colleagues, Ó Cuív strongly backed Connolly when she justified her employment of a person convicted of firearms offences.
Seoighthe spoke with Andrew Hamilton at the count centre in Galway West today. She lost her voice during the campaign and had to communicate with notes.
She had this to say: “Catherine will be a president for the people. A president that brings people together, that values dialogue, that values integrity, that listens to people, that has a vision for Ireland that includes everyone.
“The movement that Catherine has been able to build, irrespective of the criticism that she has got online and through the media, [shows] we can unite people together in a common goal and a common vision for Ireland.
Connolly campaign’s slick ‘thank you’ illustrates its superiority in the social media wars
This was released yesterday but provides a neat illustration of why the Indepependent candidate wiped the floor with its online campaign.
Humphreys has one of her strongest showings in South Dublin constituencies
Marie O’Halloran, Sarah Burns and Jack Horgan-Jones are keeping an eye on constituencies in Dublin. The final tallies for some of the key constituencies south of the Liffey are coming in now. Although all indicate a comfortable victory for Connolly, the gap is significantly less than other constituencies.
It’s not all that surprising as these constituencies have always been traditionally strong for Fine Gael. In Dublin Rathdown, the gap between the two leading candidates is 10 per cent, where it is close to 15 per cent in Dublin Bay South.
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National picture: 64 per cent share of vote predicted for Connolly
Jack Horgan-Jones reports: Fine Gael is now projecting an emphatic victory for Catherine Connolly based on a 65 per cent tally from 38 constituencies.
The state of play is:
Connolly: 64 per cent
Humphreys: 29 per cent
Gavin: 7 per cent
The total of spoiled votes is predicted to be 13 per cent which will be a historic high.
A very detailed spoiled vote
Leitrim puts Connolly support at nearly 60 per cent
Sorcha Crowley reports: The presidential race got that bit closer in Leitrim with tallies so far putting Catherine Connolly on 57 per cent and Heather Humphreys on 36 per cent. Jim Gavin is on 5 per cent. Independent Sligo-Leitrim TD Marian Harkin, who is crunching the tally numbers (and supported Humphreys), has told The Irish Times the race “will be closer in Leitrim” than Sligo where Humphreys is ahead in over 10 ten polling stations.
Tallyman Michael Kilcoyne said the total spoiled vote in Sligo-Leitrim is emerging at 13 per cent, the highest ever – the average is usually 2 per cent. The last highest spoiled vote percentage was 7 per cent back in the 1940s.
Another constituency indicating less than 60 per cent for Connolly
Marie O’Halloran reports: Dublin North-West has completed its tally, with Catherine Connolly the winner on 58 per cent. Heather Humphreys received 15 per cent but her vote was still lower than the spoiled votes, which stood at 21 per cent. Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin got 6 per cent of the vote.
Tally people predict that while Fianna Fáil won’t reach the 12.5 per cent necessary to recoup any of its expenses Mr Gavin is likely to poll above the 6 per cent that Fine Gael’s Gay Mitchell polled in that party’s disastrous 2011 presidential election foray.
Roscommon-Galway tallies predict another win for Connolly
Aonghus McDonagh reports on the final Roscommon/Galway tally where Catherine Connolly looks likely to get more than 56 per cent of the vote. If it’s borne out by the count, it is a less emphatic victory than in other constituencies.
Independent candidate Catherine Connolly looks likely she will be elected on the first count, with 16,329 (56.3 per cent) of votes tallied going her way.
Remarkably, the Galway West TD got more than 70 per cent of votes in the Ballinasloe local electoral area (LEA), and got over 60 per cent in the three county Roscommon LEAs.
Connolly’s tallied votes double that of Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys, who got 7,605 (26.4 per cent).
Humphreys performed best in the Roscommon LEA with just under a third of votes.
Jim Gavin got a total of 1,671 (6.1 per cent) of tallied votes, performing similarly across the four LEAs within the constituency.
A total of 3,318 (11.2 per cent) were tallied as spoiled, with the highest number of spoiled votes coming from the Boyle LEA.
Connolly: 16,329 (56.3 per cent)
Gavin: 1,671 (6.1 per cent)
Humphreys: 7,605 (26.4 per cent)
Spoiled: 3,318 (11.2 per cent)
Connolly wins 75 per cent of the vote in Dublin Central
Marie O’Halloran reports: The tally is complete in Dublin Central, with almost 75 per cent of votes going to Catherine Connolly.
Connolly is the clear winner with 74.25 per cent of the votes, with 19.62 per cent for Heather Humphreys and 6.13 per cent for Jim Gavin. Just 37 per cent of the electorate turned out.
A total of 14.2 per cent of votes were spoiled according to the tally, which is not the full formal count for the constituency.
Man arrested over alleged assault on Catherine Connolly canvassers
A man has been arrested by gardaí investigating an alleged assault on two women during canvassing for Catherine Connolly in north Dublin.
The alleged assault occurred in North Strand Road as Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald joined the canvass.
A video posted online appears to show a man approaching a canvass team for Ms Connolly and shouting threats to “deck” and “slap” some of them. It was reported to gardaí that two women had been assaulted in North Strand Road shortly before 4pm on Friday.
Read the full report here.
Peadar Tóibín spoiled his vote
Jack Horgan-Jones reports: Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has confirmed that he spoiled his vote in yesterday’s presidential election.
Asked if he voted yesterday, Mr Tóibín said that he “went to the polling station”.
“I’m going to be brutally honest with you, and I feel actually weird even saying this: I spoiled my vote yesterday.”
“I actually felt really strange doing it, I felt in some way that it was nearly wrong doing it, but I had no choice in that ballot yesterday at all. I had no way to exercise a political choice, and I wanted to protest that.”
The Meath West TD said that he wrote three Xs in the boxes next to the candidates, and then “Maria Steen No 1″.
Speaking in the RDS count centre in Dublin on Saturday, Mr Tóibín was asked whether the decision of a leader of a party with three Oireachtas members to spoil their vote risked undermining the democratic process.
“I think the premise of that question misses the big picture here. The undermining of democracy is the absence of a political choice.”
Mr Tóibín had previously told The Irish Times he was considering not casting a vote for the first time in 30 years.
Healy-Rae effect does not rub off in home patch
Anne Lucey reports that the Kilgarvan boxes have been tallied. This is the polling station of the Independent Healy-Raes, Danny and Michael, and their three councillor children.
Michael encouraged Heather Humphreys to run – with Seán Kelly MEP not at all happy with Minister of State Michael’s early intervention in Fine Gael politics.
Low turnout in both booths in Kilgarvan saw just 36 per cent of turnout. A total of 141 votes were valid and 46 were spoilt. Connolly harvested 84 of the Kilgarvan votes in that box, with Healther Humphreys achieving 49 and Jim Gavin eight votes.
In the second Kilgarvan box there were 89 votes for Connolly; 65 for Humphreys and 23 for Gavin.
Apart from a photo shoot with Heather at the traditional Muckross Farms in Killarney National Park at the very start of the presidential campaign, Michael was not visible for Humphreys in Kerry.
Heather Humphreys ended up as a sitting duck as voting day neared
Ellen Coyne has an incisive and atmosphere-laden article exploring why Heather Humphreys lost so badly in the presidential campaign.
It includes some exquisite paragraphs.
“Heather Humphreys is standing in the paddock of a farm in Slane, Co Meath, recalling a visit “to a lovely restaurant in Singapore to promote Irish duck”.
“The best duck in the world, in my view,” Humphreys tells a handful of bored reporters.
Over her shoulder, in the field behind her, one amorous bovine mounts another.
A rabble of Fine Gael farmers stand with Heather stickers on their lapels, ready to clap.”
Final tally in Galway West puts Connolly at 77 per cent
Andrew Hamilton reports: With all the boxes open in Galway West, tallies indicate that Catherine Connolly will take more than 77 per cent of the first preference votes.
According to the completed tally Ms Connolly has 77.06 per cent of the vote, Heather Humphreys has 18.12 per cent and Jim Gavin has 4.82 per cent.
Interestingly, Jim Gavin performed well in the postal votes, which were cast in advance of Friday’s polling day, securing almost 17 per cent according to tallies.
Tallies indicate there were 3,965 spoiled votes in Galway West or 8.85 per cent.
Even in Humphrey’s home county, Connolly taking a significant share of vote
Mark Hennessy reports: Even here in Cavan-Monaghan, in her political heartland, the news for Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys is not good, nearly three hours into the sorting of votes in the count centre in Ballyhaise Agricultural College.
Nearly two-thirds of the 260 ballot boxes in the sprawling constituency have now been tallied. Throughout the morning, the Fine Gael candidate, previously the TD for the constituency, hovered around the 58 per cent mark.
However, Independent Catherine Connolly is performing strongly with 38.78 per cent of the tallied votes, and this has remained largely consistent since 9am as the boxes were opened for sorting.
In Cootehill, Humphrey’s home political base during her Dáil Éireann career, the Fine Gael candidate has taken up to three times the number of votes that have been given to her Galway opponent.
In the Breifne College polling station in Cavan Town, meanwhile, Humphreys took 92 votes, compared with 122 for Connolly, 14 for Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin. The number of spoiled votes stood at 21, far higher than usual.
Equally, the results from the polling station in Crubany National School in the heart of County Cavan, Humphreys finished behind Connolly, according to the tallies – with 104 votes compared to 118 for Connolly.
There is little, or no evidence that Fianna Fáil voters in the constituency have heeded encouragement to vote for the party’s candidate in a bid to recoup some of the party’s election costs for the abortive Gavin campaign.
Gavin, who withdrew early in the campaign, but whose name remained on the ballot paper because nominations had already closed and it could not be removed, is polling at little more than 4 per cent – far shy of what FF needs to save its money.
Nearly 10 per cent of the votes in some ballot boxes that are currently being sorted in Ballyhaise in advance of counting have been spoiled, including messages such as ‘Get rid of Martin and Harris’
A resounding vote for Connolly in Dublin South-Central
Jack Horgan-Jones reports. We have a 100 per cent tally in Dublin South-Central.
Votes:
Connolly: 18122
Gavin: 1242
Humphreys: 3710
Spoiled: 5466
Turnout 38 per cent which is the same as 2018
When it is translated into percentages it makes for impressive reading for the Connolly camp. She has 63 per cent of the vote, compared to 13 per cent for Humphreys. Jim Gavin struggles to make 5 per cent.
The other really noteworthy statistic is the astoundingly high number of spoiled votes, 19 per cent in all.
That high figure is replicated across some of the other Dublin constituencies. Remember the total of spoiled votes in 2018 was 1.2 per cent.
Updates from centres around the country
At 10.44 am in Killarney, with over half the votes tallied, Kerry is returning 62 per cent for Connolly, just under 30 per cent for Humphreys and almost 8 per cent for Gavin, reports Anne Lucey.
Meanwhile there have been a high number of spoiled votes in some working class areas of Cork North Central, writes Barry Roche.
In one box from Knocknaheeney, Connolly got 122, Humphreys got 15 and Gavin got 9, but a whopping 71 people spoiled their votes - almost three times as the combined vote for Humphreys and Gavin
Among the spoiled votes in Cork North Central were Billy Kelleher, Conor McGregor, Maria Steen and Postman Pat.
Seventy per cent of ballot boxes for the Roscommon-Galway constituency have been counted, just over two hours after they were opened, Aonghus McDonagh.
According to tallies, Connolly looks set for a landslide victory, accounting for 63 per cent of votes tallied in the Roscommon-Galway constituency.
Humphreys has picked up 30 per cent of tallied votes, while Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin is falling short of the required 12.5 per cent of votes to retain funding, tallying at 7 per cent.
Spoiled votes have accounted for 12 per cent of the tally, with messages expressing voters’ discontent at the selection of presidential candidates.
Thirty-seven boxes are yet to be opened.
Connolly comfortably ahead in Dublin Fingal East
Cormac McQuinn reports: Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly is expected to comfortably win in Dublin Fingal East.
With 100 per cent of boxes open the final tally in the North Dublin constituency put her on 60 per cent, with Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys a distant second on 29 per cent.
Jim Gavin of Fianna Fáil was on 11 per cent.
The proportion of spoiled votes was put at 11 per cent.
Local Sinn Féin TD Ann Graves said the anticipated election of Ms Connolly as president once the national result comes in “shows that the left alliance is very strong”.
She added: “When we work together we can get good results”.
Ms Graves said Ms Connolly had been “really good” for Sinn Féin saying: “she’s strong on a united Ireland and she’s also a woman of integrity and sensitivity and she’s got that social justice which we all like”.
She believes there is “absolutely” momentum for the left for the next general election.
Ms Graves was pleased with turnout in her own local polling station in Swords, north Dublin putting it at 49 per cent, likely to be higher than the turnout nationally.
Spoiled presidential votes could reach unprecedented levels, early tallies indicate
Tallies from the Catherine Connolly campaign indicate that they believe there are around 30,000 spoiled votes so far, and the total figure could end up at around 10 per cent of those who voted, reports Sarah Burns.
High levels of spoiled votes are being seen in working class areas though large numbers are appearing in most boxes opened so far.
The total number of spoiled votes will become clear later in the day. At the last 2018 presidential election, spoiled votes totalled 18,438, accounting for 1.2 per cent of the total.
At the RDS in Dublin, where the majority of the capital’s votes are being counted, a number of ballots with “not my president”, “she was only 10″ and “Maria Steen No 1″ could be seen.
Read the full report here.
Connolly on course to win by historic margin
If the tallies are correct, Catherine Connolly’s vote share will be the largest of any presidential election since the office was established in 1938.
The Galway West TD looks like she will attract more than 60 per cent of the vote nationally and it could be higher than that.
However, to put it in context, it also looks like the turnout will also be the lowest historically. Ironically, it might have been even lower had some people not been motivated to go out and spoil their votes.
The highest vote previously was for Éamon de Valera who garnered 56 per cent of the vote when contesting the presidential election in 1959.
President Michael D Higgins won 55.8 per cent of the vote in 2018 but the outcome of that race was a foregone conclusion from day one.
De Valera got just over 50 per cent of the vote in 1966 when narrowly defeating Fine Gael’s Thomas O’Higgins. The only other candidate to get over 50 per cent of first preferences was Erskine Childers of Fianna Fáil who won the 1973 election.
Why are presidential races so nasty?
If you want to step off the conveyor belt of results and updates, there is no better place to go than Hugh Linehan’s reflective piece on why presidential election campaigns have become such dirty battles.
Wicklow votes heavily for Connolly but 14 per cent of votes are spoiled
Tim O’Brien reports: The Wicklow constituency has returned the highest number of spoilt votes in the memories of those doing the tally.
At 14.3 per cent of votes spoilt, out of a total of 4,835 votes checked, tallywoman Irene Winters said she had never seen figures for spoilt voted this high. She has been involved since 2007, she said.
Ms Winters, a former Fine Gael councillor who is operating a joint tally with supporters of Catherine Connolly, said support for Ms Connolly was at 67 per cent of the boxes opened. “Catherine Connolly has won in every single box with 38 of the 158 boxes opened”, Ms Winters said.
At this time, Heather Humphreys of Fine Gael is on 25. 8 per cent of the vote with Jim Gavin of Fianna Fáil on 7 per cent.
Wicklow convener for the Connolly campaign, Caroline Winstanley of the Social Democrats, said her team was “absolutely delighted” with the way the results were going. She said she had “started to feel it as the campaign built.”
Connolly at over 75 per cent in home constituency
Andrew Hamilton reports: With 45 per cent of the boxes opened in Salthill, Catherine Connolly remains on course for a commanding victory.
She now stands at just under 77 per cent of the tallied first preference votes, and has a sizeable lead over Heather Humphreys who has 18 per cent.
According to tallies, Jim Gavin (FF) has received 898 votes so far, or 4.6 per cent of the overall vote.
Tallies have recorded 1,839 spoiled votes and 19,304 valid votes to date, meaning that just under 8.7 per cent of the votes have been spoiled.
Dublin vote for Connolly is emphatic with spoiled votes at 30 per cent in one constituency
Marie O’Halloran reports: Catherine Connolly is the clear leader as tallying continues across Dublin.
In three of five constituencies in the capital the level of spoiled votes exceeds those for Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys, and for Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin.
DUBLIN CENTRAL
With 32 per cent of boxes opened in Dublin Central, Ms Connolly is at 79 per cent while Ms Humphreys has received 15 per cent with just 4 per cent for Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin. Some 19 per cent of votes were spoiled.
DUBLIN NORTH-WEST
Dublin northwest has an extremely hight 29 per cent spoiled vote ratio with just under 20 per cent of votes tallied. Ms Connolly is on 59 per cent of the valid poll here while Ms Humphreys has 8 per cent and Mr Gavin is on 4 per cent.
DUBLIN BAY SOUTH
Ms Humphreys is faring better in Dublin Bay South with 25.6 per cent of the tallied votes, but still significantly behind Ms Connolly on 68.9 per cent. Just 19 per cent of boxes have so far been tallied here. Mr Gavin has polled 5.5 per cent. Voters spoiled 14 per cent of votes in the tally to date.
DUBLIN BAY NORTH
Ms Connolly is on 68 per cent of votes from the 13 per cent of boxes opened, with 24 per cent for Ms Humphreys and 8.3 per cent for Mr Gavin. Spoiled votes are at 18 per cent.
DUBLIN SOUTH-CENTRAL
Catherine Connolly is on 78 per cent of votes in Dublin South-Central, traditionally one of the most left-leaning constituencies. Heather Humphreys has polled 15.7 per cent while Jim Gavin is 5.8 per cent after 39 per cent of boxes opened. Spoiled votes stand at 14 per cent.
Craughwell has no regrets for backing Connolly
Jack Horgan-Jones reports: Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell, who was among those who refused to sign Maria Steen’s nomination papers, says he has “no regrets” over his decision. Speaking at the RDS in Dublin, where a lot of spoiled ballots bear messages of support for Ms Steen, Mr Craughwell said:
“At the end of the day Maria Steen represented everything I believe Ireland moved away from. Those who support her would have us reopen many of the social questions decided by referendum in this country.”
He added: “Had she managed to get the 20 (nominations from Oireachtas members needed to get on the ballot) I think it would have been a very different election. (She is a) highly articulate, excellent debater and the debates which were highly lacklustre would have been far more interesting,” he said.
Mr Craughwell said it would have been “a much more interesting election if she was on the ballot – more interesting and a tighter one at the end of the day”
Cork South Central
There’s an interesting tally from a box in Beaumont in Cork South Central, writes Barry Roche.
Middle class areas are usually fertile fertile territory for Fine Gael, going back to Peter Barry and Hugh Coveney. They have also been good ground for Fianna Fáil in recent years as Taoiseach Micheál Martin lives just around the corner in Ballinlough.
Tallies show Connolly won 192 votes, Humphreys 116, Gavin 21, and there were 24 spoiled votes
“This is Fine Gael heartland in Cork Central and we are trailing Connolly badly - there is no way of spinning this - this is not a good day for us,” said one senior Fine Gael activist.
Kerry voting almost 2:1 for Connolly
Anne Lucey reports: With around a quarter of boxes open and tallies of booths in Killarney and Tralee it shows Catherine Connolly at 63.6 per cent of the vote, Jim Gavin at 7.5 per cent and Heather Humphreys at 28 per cent.
Spoiled votes are making up a high percentage.
Some details: Tralee Urban shows Connolly at 87 votes; Ga; 13; Hu hreys 71 and spoilt 37.
Gaelscoil Faithleann in Killarney: Connolly 110; Gavin 11; Humphreys 21; and Spoilt 39
Kildare voters weigh heavily towards Connolly
Stephen Farrell reports: Early tallies in Punchestown indicate that already Catherine Connolly has entered into a big lead over Heather Humphreys in the presidential election.
Mark Wall, Labour TD for Labour South is one of the many tally men on duty in Punchestown today. For Derrinturn NS, in the North Kildare constituency he had Catherine Connolly at 115 votes, Heather Humphreys at 51, Jim Gavin at 17 and spoiled votes at 45.
A box for Robertstown, also in North Kildare had Connolly at 57 votes, Humphreys at 30, Gavin at 13 and there were 17 spoiled votes.
Gerry Quinn, Social Democrats activist and a supporter of the Catherine Connolly campaign, said that early tallies for North Kildare indicate that Connolly has almost two-thirds of the vote at 60 per cent and well in advance of Heather Humphreys.
While early predictions of a Connolly win come with the usual health warnings regarding early tallies, the writing appears to be on the wall for the Humphreys campaign.
There have been a high number of spoiled votes reported from around the country. Here’s a selection from some of our reporters and photographers at count centres around the country.
Cavan-Monaghan only constituency where Humphreys is ahead
Mark Hennessy has been reporting from the count centre here all morning and tallies show that the Fine Gael candidate is ahead here, substantially but not overwhelmingly.
He writes: The tally from the polling station at St Patrick’s National School, Bloomfield, south of Castleblayney, put Connolly with 110 votes, Gavin at six and Humphreys at 244. The number of spoiled votes is put at 39.
With more than a fifth of boxes in Cavan/Monaghan tallied, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, who previously represented the constituency in the Dáil, is standing with 58 per cent of the votes cast.
However, Independent Catherine Connolly is performing strongly with 38.78 per cent of the tallied votes, though it must be emphasised that early tallies can be skewed by the geographical order in which boxes are opened.
In Cootehill, Humphrey’s home political base during her Dáil Éireann career, the Fine Gael candidate has taken three times the number of votes that have been given to her Galway opponent.
In the Breifni College polling station in Cavan Town, meanwhile, Humphreys took 92 votes, compared with 122 for Connolly, 14 for Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin. The number of spoiled votes stood at 21, far higher than usual.
Connolly camp say she may get two-thirds of votes
Jack Horgan-Jones reports: Word from the Catherine Connolly campaign, which is pooling local tallies into head office.
Caveat: some centres are not reporting live, but still, these figures tell a clear story. According to the campaign:
National figure is 66 per cent for Connolly, 27 per cent for Heather Humphreys, and seven per cent for Jim Gavin.
They believe the only place Humphreys is winning is Cavan-Monaghan.
They reckon around 30,000 spoiled votes so far, predicting “10 per cent or more” in the final reckoning.
Analysis from Jack Horgan-Jones
Early tallies indicate that Catherine Connolly is on course for a landslide win in the presidential election, writes Jack Horgan Jones.
The Galway West Independent is comfortably outpolling her rival Heather Humphreys across the board - as predicted by polling. However, perhaps almost as noteworthy is the level of spoiled votes being tallied - with tallymen reporting that spoiled ballots are outpolling Humphreys in some areas.
If this holds steady across the count - and all indications are that it will - it will be a resounding victory for Connolly. However, amid low turnout and a highly motivated spoil campaign, that is not the only story from this election. Connolly has proven extremely effective at mobilising the part of the electorate that was open to voting for her, and boxes from middle class and wealthier areas that might usually swing for Fine Gael show that this is a broad based category. But large chunks of the electorate feel unrepresented - and motivated enough to send a message about this by turning up to spoil their ballot. This is not a vote that is apathetic; rather, it seems it is disenfranchised and angry about it.
The messages on spoiled votes are pointed: many for Maria Steen, the conservative candidate who failed to muster enough support in the Oireachtas to get on the ballot. Many bear messages about immigration: “No IPAS centres here”, or rejecting the candidates validly on the ballot paper as a “commie” or “idiot”. Many reference the murder of Ashling Murphy (“She was only going for a run”) or the alleged sexual assault on a young girl near Citywest Hotel, which is accommodating asylum seekers and Ukrainians (“She was only 10”).
The day will belong to Connolly, who has acknowledged the alienation felt by many but has emphasised tolerance and inclusion in her campaign. The story of the count, and the election, is not so straightforward.
Taoiseach’s home constituency shows Connolly surging ahead
Barry Roche reports: In Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s constituency of Cork South Central, with 19 boxes opened, tallies show Catherine Connolly on 67.08 per cent, Heather Humphreys on 25.42 per cent, Gavin on 7.50 per cent and 8 per cent of papers were spoiled votes.
There is an interesting tally from a box in Beaumont in Cork South Central – middle class area usually fertile territory for Fine Gael going back to Peter Barry and Hugh Coveney – also good ground for Fianna Fáil in recent years as Taoiseach Micheál Martin lives just around the corner in Ballinlough
Tallies show Connolly won 192 votes, Humphreys 116, Gavin 21, and there were 24 spoiled votes
“ This is Fine Gael heartland in Cork Central and we are trailing Connolly badly – there is no way of spinning this – this is not a good day for us,” said one senior Fine Gael activist.
Landslide for Connolly in Donegal
Chris McNulty reports: Counting of votes is under way in the Donegal constituency for the 2025 presidential election – and early indications point to a ‘landslide’ for Independent candidate Catherine Connolly.
With 7 per cent of boxes opened and around 3,300 votes counted, Connolly is at 80.74 per cent of votes according to tally figures with Heather Humphreys on 15.21 per cent and Jim Gavin on 4.06 per cent.
There have been 509 spoiled votes so far.
Indeed, in 12 of the 18 boxes opened, all of which are in the Inishowen area, there have been more spoiled votes than votes for Heather Humphreys
Labour leader express concern about Spoiled Votes
Marie O’Halloran reports: Labour leader Ivana Bacik has expressed concern about what she described an orchestrated spoiled vote campaign.
“I’m really alarmed, in fact, to see the level of vitriol and the messages that are being written on the ballot papers, things like rape or somehow blaming candidates, conflating this election with the hideous assault on a young girl.
“It is some sort of orchestrated campaign here,” she said.
Ms Bacik was tallying votes from St Andrew’s Resource Centre, an inner-city area on Pearse Street in the Dublin Bay South constituency.
The boxes were showing more spoiled votes than votes for Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys.
Ms Humphreys however has come out tops however in a number of boxes in affluent Sandymount areas including St Alban’s and Park Avenue.
Veteran Labour tallyman and former national organiser Kevin Humphreys said however the very high percentage of spoiled votes were mainly in the, working class inner city boxes.
“At that stage, spoiled votes are running second to Catherine Connolly who is polling per cent 60 to 70 per cent in some of the boxes.
“Catherine Connolly is to my mind, elected. By lunchtime, we we’ll be referring to her as president-elect Connolly,” Mr Humphreys said.
Catherine Connolly says the ‘pride is coming’
Andrew Hamilton reports: Catherine Connolly arrived at the count centre in the Galway Lawn Tennis Club in Salthill a short time ago.
Speaking at the Galway count centre in Salthill this morning, Catherine Connolly said she understands the concerns of the people who didn’t vote for her and pledged to do her best to “represent everyone”.
Ms Connolly also said she was “absolutely delighted” that, according to tallies, she has received 84 per cent of the first preference votes from the boxes from the Presentation School in Galway, the school that she attended.
“I went to the Presentation school so I am absolutely delighted with the result. I would like to thank all of my supporters. Actually, I want to thank everybody, even those who didn’t vote for me.
“I understand their concerns in relation to who will represent them best and I will do my upmost to represent everyone,” she said.
When asked was she proud of her campaign she said “the pride is coming”.
Sligo-Leitrim Count shows emphatic lead for Connolly
Sorcha Crowley reports: “It’s over already,” according to one Fine Gael source at the Sligo-Leitrim Count Centre in the Mercy Secondary School gym in Sligo town.
Since the boxes have opened at 9am, tally people can be heard calling out who each vote is for, Connolly or Humphreys or “spoiled”. It’s clear at this early stage that Connolly is polling strongly. Some tally sheets have more spoiled votes than votes for Humphreys.
The word is it’s going to be a very quick tally.
There are approximately 200 boxes to be opened in this constituency, 28 at a time. Catherine Connolly’s brother-in-law and Director of Elections for her campaign in Sligo-Leitrim Independent Cllr Declan Bree is here, directing the tally people, along with Sinn Féin former MEP Chris MacManus.
Spoiled votes outpolling Heather Humphreys in some constituencies
There is a consistent pattern of spoiled votes throughout the State. In the 2018 election, only 1.2 per cent of the votes were spoiled. However, in some constituencies, particularly in Dublin, the number of spoiled votes is creeping into double digits, according to our reporters.
Connolly on course for an emphatic victory
Early tallies from Dublin, Kildare, Galway, Meath, Wexford, and Clare show that Catherine Connolly is polling extremely strongly and is significantly in advance of Heather Humphreys, with her outvoting her Fine Gael rival by a ratio of two-to-one, and in some case more than that.
The only constituency in which Humphreys is matching the Independent candidate is in Monaghan, her home constituency.
The pattern suggests an emphatic victory for Connolly.
Dublin boxes indicate ‘Connolly will win comfortably’ – Humphreys
In the RDS, former Labour Party TD Kevin Humphreys is saying his initial scan of boxes throughout Dublin indicate that Catherine Connolly will win comfortably and that the election result can be called before noon.
Connolly surging ahead in Galway West
Andrew Hamilton is reporting that Catherine Connolly is at 82.14 per cent of the tally in Galway West with just 1 per cent of the boxes open.
This is Connolly’s home constituency.
Marie Sherlock says it won’t be close
Jack Horgan-Jones reports: Marie Sherlock, Labour TD for Dublin Central says some boxes in inner city and Stoneybatter spoiled votes are outpolling Humphreys.
A lot of spoiled ballots, Labour figures report, are coming back with “she was only 10”, “she was only going for a run” – references to the recent alleged sexual assault at Citywest and the murder of Ashling Murphy.
Elsewhere in Cherry Orchard, Sarah Burns reports that spoiled votes are easily outpolling Heather Humphreys.
Miriam Lord’s winners and Losers
Our political writer has weighed in with her verdict of the campaign with a column that is unmissable. She has “curated” her iconic moments from the past three months.
The bus Jack Chambers and fellow Micheál loyalists threw Jim Gavin under.
Heather’s three-string pearl necklace.
Catherine Connolly’s keepy-uppy football.
Maria Steen’s Hermès handbag.
Jim Gavin’s white trousers.
The unworn Jim Gavin camouflage T-shirts commissioned by Fianna Fáil.
Is the turnout historically low?
Our lead story today examined the reports coming back from polling stations throughout the day. They suggest a turnout of below 40 per cent in many areas.
However, as there are some 7,000 polling stations, it is extremely difficult to get a wholly accurate figure and the official turnout may be higher.
As Katie Mellett and I reported: “By teatime, some centres were reporting fewer people had voted at that stage than had done in the last presidential election in 2018.
“There was no marked surge in the late evening before stations closed at 10pm, so it looks likely that the national turnout will be a historic low for such an election, below the 43.9 per cent recorded for the 2018 election, seven years ago.”
Good morning and welcome to live coverage from The Irish Times of the presidential election count.
By later today, we will know the identity of the 10th president of Ireland.
Counting centres throughout the State will begin counting at 9am. The first tasks at each centre will be to sort the votes as the boxes are open.
There are tallies being conducted at each centre so we should have we should have the first firm indications within an hour, especially if the direction of travel is firmly going in the direction of one candidate.
Other things to look out for during the course of the day are: turnout (it could be in the low forties, a historic low); how many votes the withdrawn Fianna Fáil, Jim Gavin, will get; and how many votes will be spoiled this time compared to 2018.
