While it’s only a matter of time before Ms Connolly is officially deemed the next President, a large number of votes were spoiled as part of a concerted effort online — with more spoiled votes than votes for Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys in some parts of Dublin.

Voters in Ireland went to the polls Friday to elect one of two women as their new president for the next seven years.

The Irish Independent/ Ireland Thinks poll, released the day before voting, shows the Independent candidate 15 points ahead of Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys

Boxes are being opened across the country, as the counting of votes in the presidential election gets underway.

Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly is expected to beat her challenger, centrist Fine Gael Heather Humphreys. A recent poll suggested 49% of voters did not feel represented by either of them. The winner will succeed 84-year-old Michael Higgins,

Independent Presidential Election candidate Catherine Connolly has said she is "absolutely delighted" with initial tallies in her home county of Galway.

Micheal Martin, Ireland’s taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader, hand-picked Mr Gavin, a hugely successful Gaelic football manager who led Dublin to six All-Ireland senior football championship titles between 2013 to 2019, a period of dominance that earned comparisons to Sir Alex Ferguson.

A third candidate, Jim Gavin, 54, dropped out of the race in early October over an unpaid debt to a former tenant. Though he remains on the ballot, it is almost certain that Ireland’s next president will be a woman.