Catherine Connolly Secures Historic Presidential Win in Kilkenny

UPDATE: The final voting results from Carlow/Kilkenny have just been announced, confirming that Catherine Connolly is on track for a historic victory as Ireland’s next president. Connolly, an Independent candidate, decisively secured over half of the votes cast, amassing 27,697 out of 51,909 total votes in the region, with results revealed at Kilkenny College.

This decisive win marks what could be the most comprehensive margin in presidential election history. Connolly’s victory reflects a nationwide trend as she draws closer to being officially confirmed as president this evening. The total turnout in Carlow/Kilkenny was reported at 44.5%, slightly below the current national average of 45.9%. Notably, a significant number of votes, 6,493, were spoiled.

In a clear signal of the race’s outcome, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys conceded early, congratulating Connolly on her win even before the first official count was released. Humphreys finished a distant second with 14,357 votes, followed by the withdrawn Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin, who garnered 3,362 votes.

As the evening progresses, Connolly is poised to win in nearly every constituency except for Humphreys’ home base of Cavan-Monaghan, capping off a bruising and competitive campaign. Official confirmation of the election results will take place at the national count centre in Dublin Castle later tonight.

Stay tuned for updates as this historic moment unfolds, and prepare to witness the formal announcement of Ireland’s new president. Share this news to keep others informed about this significant political shift in Ireland!