Catherine Connolly poised for landslide as Ireland votes for new president

Irish voters are heading to the polls on October 24 to elect a new president, with final opinion polls indicating a commanding lead for Catherine Connolly, an independent leftwing candidate who has captured the imagination of younger voters, as per the Guardian.

A Thursday poll gave Connolly 40% support, compared with 25% for her rival, Heather Humphreys, a former cabinet minister. When accounting for undecided voters and those planning to spoil their ballots, Connolly’s lead widened to 55%, against Humphreys’ 35%. Earlier polls this week similarly indicated a strong advantage for Connolly, 68, in the race to succeed Michael D Higgins, who is completing his second seven-year term as Ireland’s 10th president.

Despite the predicted landslide, almost half of voters say they feel unrepresented by either candidate, raising concerns about low turnout and a potentially high rate of spoiled ballots.

While the presidency is largely ceremonial, a victory for Connolly would represent a symbolic rebuke to the centre-right government. It would also mark a triumph for a coalition of opposition leftwing parties, including Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and the Greens, which united to support her candidacy.

A former clinical psychologist and barrister from Galway, Connolly has risen from political obscurity, energising young voters through podcasts and viral social media posts. She has received endorsements from artists and musicians, including Kneecap and the Mary Wallopers.

Connolly’s platform emphasises equality and a firm commitment to preserving Irish neutrality. She has criticised Western militarism, comparing Germany’s current arms spending to the Nazi era, and accused the UK and US of enabling atrocities in Gaza. Critics, however, have labelled her radical, warning that her positions could strain relations with European allies.

Traditionally, Irish presidents played symbolic, low-profile roles. Since 1990, figures such as Mary Robinson, Mary McAleese, and Higgins have transformed the office into a platform for pluralism, reconciliation with Northern Ireland, and ethical foreign policy. Connolly has pledged to respect the constitutional limits of the presidency if elected, but supporters hope she will continue to address issues, including the housing crisis, hospital waiting lists, and foreign affairs.

Connolly’s advantage was reinforced by nomination rules and missteps by the ruling centre-right coalition, which narrowed the field to a two-candidate race. High-profile figures such as Bob Geldof, Michael Flatley, and Conor McGregor failed to secure the endorsements needed to appear on the ballot. Geldof later said he would have “walked it” and been a “really good” president.

Fianna Fáil’s candidate, Jim Gavin, withdrew after a financial scandal, leaving his name on the ballot due to the late withdrawal. Fine Gael initially fielded Mairead McGuinness, who stepped down for health reasons, leading the party to nominate Humphreys, 62, a Presbyterian from a border county considered to have broad appeal. However, Humphreys struggled in debates and was hindered by her association with a government blamed for the housing shortage and cost-of-living pressures.

On Thursday, Humphreys campaigned in Cork and Clare, presenting herself as the centre-ground candidate, while Connolly visited Roscommon and Galway. “I am absolutely not taking it for granted, absolutely not. It will be an absolute privilege if the people of Ireland elect me when they cast their vote,” Connolly told supporters.

Polling stations open at 7 am and close at 10 pm, with results expected on Saturday, October 26. The total eligible electorate stands at 3.6 million.

By Tamilla Hasanova