• Catherine Connolly is set to become Ireland's 10th president, marking a significant political shift.
• Connolly secured 63.4% of the votes, defeating Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys.
• The election was marred by a record number of spoiled ballots, reflecting voter dissatisfaction.
• Connolly has been vocal on issues including social justice and the Middle East conflict.
• She aims to be an inclusive president, acknowledging those who did not vote for her.

Catherine Connolly has been elected as Ireland's 10th president following a decisive victory in the presidential election against Heather Humphreys of the center-right Fine Gael party. Connolly, an independent candidate with broad support from left-wing political groups, secured approximately 63.4% of the votes, as reported by multiple sources, including India Times and Al Jazeera.

The election was characterized by an unusually high percentage of spoiled ballots at 13%, indicating significant voter dissatisfaction with the options available, according to South China Morning Post and Reuters. Connolly's campaign resonated with younger voters, largely due to her strong stance on social justice issues and her vocal criticism of military actions in Gaza.

During her acceptance speech, Connolly expressed gratitude to all voters and stated her intention to be an inclusive president, aiming to bridge divisions within the electorate. “I will be a president who listens and reflects,” she noted, emphasizing her commitment to representing all constituents, including those who opted to spoil their ballots, according to Los Angeles Times and Channel News Asia.

Connolly's election signals a notable shift in Irish politics, moving towards a leftist agenda which has gained traction as public sentiment appears to grow weary of traditional centrist governance. Her presidency will succeed Michael D. Higgins, who served two terms in a largely ceremonial role, as outlined by reports from CBS News and BBC.