Official results showed strong voter support for Connolly as president, a largely ceremonial role in Ireland. She won 63% of first-preference votes once ineligible votes were excluded, compared to 29% for her rival Heather Humphreys, of the center-right party Fine Gael.

Ireland’s newly elected president, Catherine Connolly, has been described by one media outlet as hostile to Donald Trump in her comments about the U.S. leader.

Catherine Connolly, one of the fiercest left-wing independent candidates, might be crowned the next president of Ireland. With voting now closed and counting underway, Connolly appears to hold a commanding lead over her opponents.

Following the election of the far-left’s Catherine Connolly as president of Ireland on Saturday, the country’s Chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder expresses hope that her administration will work together with the country’s Jewish community of about 2,000.

The debates are over, Presidential candidates have come and gone - two remain in a straight shootout between Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys

Voters in the Republic of Ireland will go to the polls on Friday to elect a new president of Ireland.The winning candidate will become the country's 10th president, replacing the current head of state Michael D Higgins.

Heather Humphreys has congratulated Catherine Connolly on "becoming the next President of Ireland', saying the Independent candidate "will be a president for all of us and she will be my president".

Sir Bob Geldof has said he “regrets” not running to be president of Ireland, a day before Irish voters head to the polls to pick their new head of state.