President-elect Catherine Connolly has pledged to serve as an “inclusive” president for everyone, saying in her address at Dublin Castle that, together, the people of Ireland can “shape a new Republic”.
Messages of congratulations have been sent from across the political spectrum to Ms Connolly, who was officially announced this evening as Ireland’s next president, reports RTE.
She secured more than 63% of the votes, placing her well ahead of her rival, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys.
Ms Connolly expressed her gratitude to party leaders, TDs, Senators, and to all who supported her, as well as to those who did not, reports RTE.
She said: “I will be a president who listens and reflects and who speaks when it’s necessary.
“I will be a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, a voice that articulates the existential threat posed by climate change, and a voice that recognises the tremendous work being done the length and breadth of the country,” reports RTE.
Ms Connolly continued: “Our whole mantra during this campaign was that we can shape a new Republic together and we can use our voices for those who haven’t the ability, or for whom the circumstances don’t allow it.
“But my message is, use your voice in every way you can because our public and democracy needs constructive questioning and, together, we can shape a new Republic that values everybody, that values and champions diversity and that takes confidence in our own identity, our Irish language, our English language, and new people who have come to our country.
“I would be an inclusive president for all of you and I regard it as an absolute honour,” reports RTE.
Ms Humphreys conceded defeat around midday, acknowledging that Ms Connolly would be a “president for all”.
“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,” she said.
“I have absolutely not one regret,” she added, reports RTE.
In his statement, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he looked forward “to working with the new president” and praised Ms Connolly’s campaign as “impressive”.
From the early stages of counting, Ms Connolly led the results across counting centres nationwide, reports RTE.
There were also numerous spoiled ballots containing anti-Government messages such as “no democracy”, “EU puppets” and “no from me”.
Speaking to journalists at Dublin Castle, Tánaiste Simon Harris remarked that “today is her day” regarding Ms Connolly, while also voicing concern about the large number of spoiled votes.
He said it reflected “the number of people in Ireland now who are clearly feeling disaffected or disconnected with politics”, reports RTE.
He also observed that some voters put “quite a lot of effort in spoiling their ballot”.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described the outcome as a “stunning victory for optimism and hope over cynicism and negativity”.
“Sinn Féin arrived at the moment where momentum had to be established and built, and we achieved with others precisely that,” she added, reports RTE.
Ms Connolly was supported by Sinn Féin along with Labour, the Social Democrats, and People Before Profit.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said Ms Connolly had managed to unite parties “with an alternative vision”, reports RTE.
She said that left-wing parties could now examine how they might “combine together” and “offer a real alternative” in the next general election.
Addressing the number of spoiled ballots, Ms Bacik said: “The level of vitriol directed at people of all political persuasions on some of those spoiled ballots is really alarming to see and I think it means we need to take that anti-democratic threat really seriously,” reports RTE.
Congratulating Ms Connolly, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns described the result as a “seismic moment in our history”.
She said: “The momentum behind Catherine’s presidential bid was incredible, growing from a small campaign run by dedicated volunteers to the grassroots movement it became,” reports RTE.
People Before Profit–Solidarity TD Paul Murphy claimed Ms Connolly’s success would mark “the biggest margin ever of any presidential election”.
Mr Murphy called the election “historic”, saying it represented “the first national election where the left will have won over 50% of votes on first preferences,” reports RTE.
Speaking earlier today, Ms Connolly said she was “absolutely delighted” with the early tallies that clearly pointed to her victory.
Speaking to reporters in Galway, Ms Connolly said: “I am absolutely delighted with the result and I want to thank all my supporters.
“Actually, I want to thank everybody – even those who did not vote for me.
“I understand their concerns in relation to who will represent them best,” reports RTE.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín admitted he had spoiled his own ballot in the presidential election.
Mr Tóibín said: “I’m going to be brutally honest with you, and I feel weird even saying this, I spoiled my vote yesterday,” reports RTE.
An Coimisiún Toghcháin stated there “will clearly be a need for deeper and further reflection” regarding the high level of spoiled ballots during the Presidential Election.
It noted that the number of spoiled papers “is significantly higher than normal and it is clear that some people chose to deliberately spoil their votes,” reports RTE.
In her home constituency of Galway West, Ms Connolly’s supporters have been celebrating her victory.
She won 90% of first-preference votes in her local area of Shantalla, reports RTE.
After greeting Ms Connolly at the count centre this morning, many supporters boarded buses bound for Dublin Castle to witness the historic moment, among them her elderly cousin John Bhabha Jeaic Ó Conghaile from Leitir Mealláin.
“I can’t believe my cousin with her roots in Conamara is to become the President of Ireland. Her grandfather is from Inis Bearachain off Leitir Mealláin. One of our own,” he said.
His eyes welled up as he said today was a dream come true, smiling gently as he prepared to set off.
“It’s rare I’d be in Dublin but I have to go to and see Catherine’s official declaration,” he added, reports RTE.
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