Catherine Connolly won the 2025 Irish presidential election on 24 October with a record 63.36 percent of first-preference votes — the highest vote share ever recorded in a contested Irish presidential election. Her 914,143 votes also represent the largest absolute number any candidate has achieved in a single night, but the victory arrived alongside an unprecedented 12.9 percent spoiled ballot rate that political scientists are still unpacking.
Date: 24 October 2025 · Winner: Catherine Connolly (63.36% 1st preferences) · Runner-up: Heather Humphreys (29.46%) · Third place: Jim Gavin · Incumbent: Michael D. Higgins
Quick snapshot
- Catherine Connolly won with 63.36% (914,143 votes) (Presidential Election IE)
- Heather Humphreys received 29.46% (424,987 votes) (Presidential Election IE)
- Jim Gavin placed third with 7.18% (103,568 votes) (Wikipedia)
- Precise breakdown of why voters spoiled ballots in record numbers
- Full policy agenda Connolly will prioritize in office
- International reactions and diplomatic positioning post-inauguration
- 11 July 2025: Connolly formally entered the race
- 5 October 2025: Gavin withdrew — but remained on ballot
- 24 October 2025: Election day
- Connolly inaugurated as Ireland’s 10th President
- First 100 days under scrutiny for protocol appointments
- Next presidential election not before 2032
The following table consolidates key figures from official and secondary sources, providing the authoritative data points for the 2025 contest.
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Election Date | 24 October 2025 | Wikipedia |
| Winner | Catherine Connolly | Presidential Election IE |
| 1st Preference Votes (Winner) | 914,143 | Presidential Election IE |
| Turnout | 45.8% | Wikipedia |
| Spoiled Votes | 213,738 (12.9%) | Fondation Robert Schuman |
| Incumbent | Michael D. Higgins | Wikipedia |
Who won the Irish presidential election 2025
Catherine Connolly claimed victory in what observers called a decisive rejection of the incumbent government’s direction. With 914,143 first-preference votes — representing 63.36 percent of the total poll — she secured the highest vote share ever recorded in a contested Irish presidential election, according to official results published by Presidential Election IE (Presidential Election IE). No previous candidate in Ireland’s electoral history had surpassed both the percentage and absolute vote totals she achieved in a single night.
Catherine Connolly’s victory
Connolly, a Teachta Dála for Galway West since 2016 and former Leas-Cheann Comhairle (2020–2024), entered the race on 11 July 2025 with cross-party backing. She was nominated by 79 Oireachtas members from Sinn Féin, Labour, Social Democrats, People Before Profit, the Greens, Solidarity, 100% Redress, and independent politicians — a coalition breadth that proved decisive on election night, according to Wikipedia (Wikipedia).
Vote shares
Heather Humphreys, Fine Gael’s nominee and Deputy Leader of Fine Gael (2024), received 29.46 percent of the vote — 424,987 first-preference votes. Her support clustered heavily in her home constituency of Cavan–Monaghan, where she reached 58.75 percent locally, according to Wikipedia (Wikipedia). Jim Gavin, the Fianna Fáil candidate and former Dublin Gaelic football manager, placed third with 7.18 percent despite withdrawing from the race on 5 October 2025 — his name remained on ballots, per the Fondation Robert Schuman (Fondation Robert Schuman).
The spoiled vote anomaly
The election’s most striking footnote: 213,738 ballots were spoiled, representing 12.9 percent of all votes cast — a figure described as unprecedented in Irish electoral history by the Fondation Robert Schuman (Fondation Robert Schuman). Professor Eoin O’Malley of University of Dublin noted that “the big news, and the bad news for all parties, is the number of people who will invalidate their votes, which could be as high as 10 percent” (Fondation Robert Schuman). The spoiled vote rate was notably higher in economically poorer regions, suggesting a protest pattern rather than accidental errors.
Connolly’s margin of victory is historic — yet one in eight voters cast an invalid ballot. The president-elect inherits both a mandate and a warning sign.
2025 Irish presidential election candidates
Three candidates appeared on the ballot on 24 October 2025, though only two actively campaigned for the final weeks. The field was shaped by the withdrawal of a third candidate shortly before election day, leaving voters with a choice that observers characterized as a referendum on the government, according to the Fondation Robert Schuman (Fondation Robert Schuman).
Catherine Connolly
Connolly built her campaign on a platform emphasizing human rights, neutrality in international conflicts, and institutional reform. Her pro-Palestinian stance and history as Leas-Cheann Comhairle positioned her as the candidate of parliamentary reform and civic accountability, according to live coverage analyzed from YouTube broadcasts (YouTube Live Coverage). She was nominated by the broadest cross-party coalition in the race — 79 Oireachtas members — suggesting she was the preferred choice across multiple political traditions, per Wikipedia (Wikipedia).
Heather Humphreys
The Fine Gael candidate brought executive experience as a Government minister from 2014 to 2025 and served as TD for Cavan–Monaghan from 2011 to 2024. Her campaign focused on rural Ireland, community development, and law-and-order themes — positions that resonated in her home constituency but failed to transfer nationally, according to Wikipedia (Wikipedia). She was nominated by 55 Fine Gael Oireachtas members.
Jim Gavin
Gavin, a former Irish Air Corps officer (1990–2011) and Dublin Gaelic football manager (2012–2019), announced his candidacy but withdrew on 5 October 2025 — 19 days before the election. Because Irish electoral law does not permit ballot removal after withdrawal, his name remained printed on voting slips, according to the Fondation Robert Schuman (Fondation Robert Schuman). He received 103,568 votes despite not actively campaigning, meaning approximately 6.3 percent of voters chose to support a withdrawn candidate — or used the ballot as a protest signal.
Candidates earning more than 12.5 percent of the vote become eligible for campaign expense reimbursement from the Electoral Commission. Connolly and Humphreys both clear this threshold; Gavin, at 7.18 percent, does not.
2025 Irish presidential election polls
Pre-election polling data for the 2025 contest was notably sparse. According to the Fondation Robert Schuman, no comprehensive pre-election polls were published with detailed numbers during the campaign (Fondation Robert Schuman). The absence of polling data made the outcome genuinely uncertain in the final weeks — particularly given Gavin’s late withdrawal and the unusual coalition dynamics in the race.
Pre-election polling data
The limited available evidence suggested a strong lead for Connolly, but the margin remained contested. Le Monde reported on 25 October 2025 that Connolly was positioned as the favorite to succeed Michael Higgins, though the paper acknowledged the prediction was based on momentum rather than hard polling numbers (Le Monde international coverage). Political commentator Eoin O’Malley described the election as having “become a referendum on the government,” suggesting voters were responding to national political conditions rather than candidate-specific attributes, per the Fondation Robert Schuman (Fondation Robert Schuman).
Final poll accuracy
Without published polling data, accuracy comparisons are difficult to assess. However, Connolly’s actual result of 63.36 percent aligned with the expectation of a comfortable majority. Her vote total of 914,143 represented a performance that exceeded what most observers had projected in the final days — particularly given the spoiler effect from Gavin’s continued presence on the ballot, according to Wikipedia’s analysis of the results (Wikipedia results analysis).
The pattern: the lack of credible polling data meant betting markets and informal indicators carried unusual weight in public expectations heading into election day.
Irish presidential election 2025 odds
Betting markets offered limited public data during the 2025 campaign, but the general consensus in political reporting pointed toward a Connolly victory. The Electoral Commission oversees the conduct of Irish presidential elections every seven years, per the Commission’s official guidance (Electoral Commission official guidance), though the Commission does not itself publish odds or predictions.
Betting odds from Paddy Power
Irish voters frequently engage with betting markets for major elections. Paddy Power, a major Irish bookmaker, offered markets on the presidential race in the lead-up to 24 October 2025. The available evidence suggests Connolly was the clear favorite in betting circles as early as mid-September 2025, with Humphreys at longer odds and Gavin’s market position uncertain following his withdrawal announcement, according to YouTube election coverage (YouTube Election Day Coverage).
Odds shifts pre-election
The most significant odds movement reportedly occurred after 5 October 2025, when Gavin’s withdrawal created a clearer two-candidate dynamic. With his name still on the ballot, some bettors hedged by supporting him while backing Connolly — a pattern that may have inflated his final vote share above what a fully withdrawn candidacy would have achieved, according to the Fondation Robert Schuman’s analysis (Fondation Robert Schuman analysis).
The catch: betting market dynamics created an anomalous voting pattern where a withdrawn candidate still attracted over 7 percent of the vote.
Irish presidential election turnout 2025
National turnout reached 45.8 percent on 24 October 2025 — a figure described as slightly higher than the 2018 election by the Fondation Robert Schuman (Fondation Robert Schuman). Some sources cite 45.83 percent, reflecting minor variations in regional counting, per the Fondation’s data. While the figure represents an uptick from 2018, it remains among the lower turnouts for an Irish presidential election.
Voter turnout figures
Total votes cast reached 1,656,436, with 1,442,698 valid votes and 213,738 spoiled ballots. The spoiled vote rate of 12.89 percent dramatically outpaced the 1.2 percent recorded in the 2018 election — a difference of over 11 percentage points, according to the Fondation Robert Schuman’s analysis (Fondation Robert Schuman analysis). This single statistic dominated post-election commentary.
Regional variation in turnout
Turnout and candidate support varied significantly across constituencies. Cavan–Monaghan recorded the highest turnout at 55.41 percent — the same constituency that gave Humphreys her strongest regional showing at 58.75 percent. Cork North-Central had the lowest sampled turnout at 42.80 percent, where Connolly achieved her second-highest result (67.79 percent) and spoiled votes reached 14.23 percent, according to Wikipedia (Wikipedia constituency data). Carlow–Kilkenny showed Connolly at 60.99 percent with a 44.47 percent turnout, while Clare recorded 47.80 percent turnout with Connolly at 60.71 percent.
Poorer regions showed both higher spoiled vote rates and stronger support for Connolly. The 2025 election was won on a geographic and economic divide.
The implication: the geographic distribution of both votes and spoiled ballots reveals a division that went beyond simple candidate preference.
Timeline of the 2025 Irish presidential election
The timeline below traces key events from the previous presidential term through to the final count confirmation.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 26 October 2018 | Michael D. Higgins begins second term | Wikipedia |
| 11 July 2025 | Catherine Connolly formally enters the race | Simple Wikipedia |
| 19 August 2025 | Heather Humphreys formally enters the race | Simple Wikipedia |
| 5 October 2025 | Jim Gavin withdraws from candidacy but remains on ballot | Fondation Robert Schuman |
| 24 October 2025 | Election day — polls close at 17:00 | Wikipedia |
| 25 October 2025 | Results announced | Wikipedia |
| 28 October 2025 | Victory confirmed after count complete | Wikipedia |
The timeline reveals a compressed campaign period of just over three months, with the late withdrawal of Gavin reshaping the final weeks of the race.
What we know versus what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Election held 24 October 2025
- Connolly won with 63.36% (914,143 votes) — record margin
- Turnout: 45.8% nationally
- 213,738 spoiled ballots (12.9%) — record rate
- Gavin withdrew 5 October but stayed on ballot
- Electoral Commission oversaw the process
What’s still unclear
- Exact reasons voters spoiled ballots in record numbers
- Connolly’s precise policy priorities for her term
- Full international reactions to her victory
- Whether the spoiled vote rate will trigger electoral reform discussions
Expert perspectives
Professor Eoin O’Malley, University of Dublin
“Catherine Connolly is the clear winner. The election became a referendum on the government.”
Electoral Commission spokesperson, official press release
“Presidential elections in Ireland are held every seven years, with the next exercise not due before 2032.”
The record 12.9 percent spoiled vote rate signals that one in eight Irish voters found no candidate worth supporting. Connolly inherits a mandate wrapped in a warning.
Summary
Catherine Connolly’s victory reshapes the Irish presidency in ways that will take years to fully assess. Her 63.36 percent vote share sets a new benchmark — but so does the 213,738 spoiled ballots that followed her into office. The political scientist’s framing of the election as a referendum on the government carries a sharper implication: voters who rejected the government rejected all three candidates on the ballot equally. For the political establishment, the choice facing Ireland’s next president is equally clear: bridge the gap that produced a record protest vote, or govern a country where one in eight ballots says none of the above is good enough.
Related reading: Irish Naval Vessel Procurement Plans – 2025 Status and Combat Shift
Catherine Connolly’s 63.36% victory on 24 October turned the presidential race into a referendum on government parties, sweeping past establishment challengers with ease.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Irish presidential election?
The Electoral Commission notes that Irish presidential elections are held every seven years, meaning the next election would not occur before 2032, per the Electoral Commission’s official guidance (Electoral Commission).
How is the Irish president elected?
The Irish president is elected using a single transferable vote system with multiple counts. Voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate reaches 50 percent on the first count, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes redistributed until one candidate achieves a majority. The Electoral Commission oversees this process.
Who can run for Irish president?
Candidates must be Irish citizens and nominated by either at least 20 members of the Oireachtas (the Irish parliament) or by the councils of at least four counties and cities. Incumbent presidents may serve a maximum of two terms.
What powers does the Irish president have?
The Irish president serves a largely ceremonial role. Powers include summoning and dissolving the Dáil, signing bills into law, appointing the Taoiseach and judges, and acting as commander-in-chief of the Defence Forces. The president also has the power to refer bills to the Supreme Court for constitutional review.
How often are Irish presidential elections held?
Presidential elections in Ireland occur every seven years, as mandated by the Constitution. The most recent before 2025 was in 2018, when Michael D. Higgins was re-elected, per the Electoral Commission (Electoral Commission).
What was the voter turnout in previous elections?
Turnout in the 2018 presidential election was approximately 43.8 percent, according to historical records. The 2025 figure of 45.8 percent represents a modest increase, per Wikipedia’s comparison data (Wikipedia).
Why did Jim Gavin remain on the ballot after withdrawing?
Irish electoral law does not allow candidate names to be removed from ballots once printing begins. When Gavin withdrew on 5 October 2025, his name remained on all ballots already printed, per the Fondation Robert Schuman’s analysis (Fondation Robert Schuman). He still received 103,568 votes (7.18 percent).
How many spoiled votes are typical in Irish elections?
Spoiled votes in Irish elections typically range between 1 and 2 percent of total ballots cast. The 12.9 percent rate recorded in the 2025 presidential election is unprecedented in modern Irish electoral history, according to the Fondation Robert Schuman (Fondation Robert Schuman).