Outside politics, Connolly is a passionate Irish speaker and a keen sportswoman who ran marathons and played badminton competitively in her younger years. The 68 year old recently showed off her skills on the campaign trail by playing football and basketball with children at a block of flats in northside Dublin.

The left-wing independent candidate showed her political and physical stamina during the final months of the campaign.

Catherine Connolly, la candidata independiente de izquierda que obtuvo el respaldo de los partidos izquierdistas de Irlanda, incluido el Sinn Féin,

While the count is still ongoing, Heather Humphreys has conceded the Presidential Election to Catherine Connolly who will be declared the new President of Ireland in Dublin Castle when the vote count has ended.