Winner declared in Irish presidential election

Independent candidate Catherine Connolly has won Ireland's presidential election after her rival conceded.

The 68-year-old former barrister from Galway secured 63% of first preferences, in an election that was marked by a significant number of spoiled votes. Speaking at Dublin Castle after officially being declared the winner, Ms Connolly pledged to be "an inclusive president for all".

Analysis: A landslide victory in a lacklustre presidential election She said: "I will be a president who listens and reflects and who speaks when it's necessary. "I will be a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, a voice that articulates the existential threat posed by climate change, and a voice that recognises the tremendous work being done the length and breadth of the country.

"But my message is, use your voice in every way you can, because our public and democracy needs constructive questioning and, together, we can shape a new republic that values everybody, that values and champions diversity and that takes confidence in our own identity, our Irish language, our English language, and new people who have come to our country." The Irish presidency - which has been held by Michael D Higgins, a popular poet and former arts minister for the past 14 years - is largely ceremonial, but one with real national significance. 'A president for all of us' Congratulations from across the political spectrum poured in for Ms Connolly, including her only opponent in the race, Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys.

She told reporters at the Cavan-Monaghan count centre: "Catherine will be a president for all of us and she will be my president, and I really would like to wish her all the very, very best. "I have absolutely not one regret." Also speaking at Dublin Castle, Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he was looking forward to working with Ms Connolly.

"What an outstanding honour that has been bestowed upon her by the people of Ireland," he said. "The people are sovereign in our democracy, we have one of the oldest democracies in the world, and it's something we cherish very much indeed.

"And the people have spoken resoundingly today. They've given Catherine a tremendous majority and a very clear mandate." Ireland's deputy premier, Simon Harris, who leads the Fine Gael party, said in a statement that Ms Connolly will be a president "for all this country and for all of us".

The final result was officially announced by presidential returning officer Barry Ryan after counting in all 43 constituencies had completed. From early on Saturday, Ms Connolly was ahead in count centres nationwide, which she said she was "absolutely delighted" by.

The election was, however, marked by a significant number of spoiled votes, with 213,738 invalid polls nationwide - a tenfold increase on the last presidential election in 2018. Among the anti-government messages on the ballots were "no democracy.