Catherine Connolly will be the tenth president of Ireland, after a landslide win over the weekend.
Connolly, an outspoken left-wing, independent candidate, won the election after she secured 63% of the nation's votes.
The 68-year-old is a former clinical psychologist and barrister, who has garnered the backing of major left-leaning parties in her career as a Teachta Dála, (a member of Ireland's Lower House of Parliament, the Dáil), including the Labour Party and Sinn Féin.
She will be taking over the Presidency of Ireland, or the Uachtarán na hÉireann, from Michael D Higgins.
The only other competitor in the race was centre-right candidate, Heather Humphreys of the Fine Gael party.
Humphreys conceded defeat hours before an official result and wished Connolly “the very, very best”.
“Catherine will be a president for all of us, and she will be my president," she said.
Connolly shaped her campaign around social issues, with a firm stance against Israel's genocide in Gaza and support for Palestine, boosting support for Gailege (the Irish language), and a hope for seeing a united, wholly republic Ireland.
She pledged that if elected, Northern Ireland would be the first place she visits in an official capacity.
“I will be a president who listens, who reflects and who speaks when it’s necessary,” Connelly said in a speech at Dublin Castle.
“Together we can shape a new republic that values everybody,” she added.
