#presidential-election

#presidential-election

TV debates had major impact on outcome of election, analysis shows

Ireland's president for the next seven years is an independent lawmaker who has long spoken in support of Palestinians and has been vocal about her distrust of European Union policies. Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly, 68, secured 63% of votes in a landslide election victory on Saturday, comfortably defeating her center-right rival, former Cabinet minister Heather Humphreys. The politician won after Ireland's left-leaning opposition parties, including Sinn Fein, united to back her, and she is expected to be a voice unafraid to challenge Ireland's center-right government.

I'd like to say you have a stake in this, a right to participate, of being heard and participate. We need to go out to towns and villages and listen to people. to hear what they have to say.

As we sit here in the Wedgewood Room of Dublin Castle surrounded by portraits of British nobility from the 19th century, Catherine Connolly is in Galway accepting the inevitable. Privately senior Fine Gael figures have told us they know the game is up and it's a matter of damage limitation. But another story is also emerging... tallies are suggesting not just a historically low turnout but also that tens of thousands of those who did go to a polling station yesterday spoiled their vote.

With the presidential election done and dusted, remind yourself of the highs and lows of the campaign

The minister seems happy to skip the first Cabinet meeting since summer and has also taken on role of director of elections for the presidential election Jack Chambers stood in the community garden and sunroom in the village of Kilmeedy in west Limerick taking in the vista. It's marvellous that the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation was able to take a moment for reflection on his visit 12 days ago.

The decision by leader Mary Lou McDonald not to put herself forward will no doubt disappoint some of her supporters. She is a skilful campaigner and has repeatedly proven herself as a formidable debater - invaluable traits on the hustings. Some argue she is such a totem for Sinn Féin that were she to lose, she could damage both her own prospects and those of the party, so inextricably are their fates linked.

'Some encouraged me, others said stay the course [as Sinn Féin president]' - Mary Lou McDonald Sinn Féin leader still does not definitively say if party will have their own candidate - or if they will back Catherine Connolly Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys to kickstart her campaign next week Fianna Fáil to vote for their presidential candidate tomorrow