Irish presidential candidate Catherine Connolly, who is running as an independent in the October 24 election, attends the Irish National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Ireland, September 16, 2025.

Catherine Connolly is set to become Ireland's next president after her rival conceded defeat in the presidential election.

Ireland began voting on Friday to elect its next president with Catherine Connolly, a veteran lawmaker on the far-left of the Irish political spectrum, the clear favourite to win the largely ceremonial role.

Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys conceded defeat after early tallies showed Connolly was on the course to be elected the country's next president.View on euronews

Ireland is set to have a new president in the form of Catherine Connolly, an independent leftwing TD for Galway, and former deputy speaker of the Dáil. The presidential election campaign was a colourful and eccentric spectacle.

The veteran Left-winger Catherine Connolly is set to become Ireland’s new president by a landslide margin after her only rival conceded.

Catherine Connolly, a former psychologist and barrister from Galway, has emerged as a unifying force for the Irish left in the presidential election - embracing her self-described status as a political "underdog".