Connolly Leads Ireland Presidential Race with Early Tallies

Catherine Connolly is poised to become Ireland's next president, with early tallies showing her as the clear frontrunner, securing around 68-73% of the valid votes in key constituencies. She expressed her delight and gratitude to supporters as well as those who did not vote for her, acknowledging the electorate's diverse concerns about representation. The election featured three candidates initially, including Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys and ex-Dublin football manager Jim Gavin, who withdrew from the race but remained on the ballot. A notable number of spoiled votes were observed, some containing political messages and reflecting voter dissatisfaction. Labour leader Ivana Bacik described Connolly's campaign as galvanizing, signaling a potential significant shift in Irish politics. Official results are awaited following the counting of votes across 43 constituencies, with Connolly expected to replace Michael D Higgins as Ireland's tenth president.