From the French president to Scotland's first minister to the Catholic Primate of Ireland, political and church leaders have been congratulating Catherine Connolly on her Presidential Election win.
Emmanuel Macron sent his "sincere congratulations" to president-elect Connolly on her victory.
Posting on X, he sent her his "sincere congratulations" and thanked President Michael D Higgins "for these years of shared work and friendship".
Sincere congratulations, Catherine Connolly, on your election as President of Ireland. Thank you, President Michael D. Higgins, for these years of shared work and friendship.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 26, 2025
France, Ireland's closest EU neighbour.
Archbishop Eamon Martin said he hopes the Holy Spirit inspires her "to be a faithful servant leader for Irish citizens everywhere, building peace and reconciliation on our island".
Congratulations to President-elect, Catherine Connolly. May the Holy Spirit inspire her to be a faithful servant leader for Irish citizens everywhere, building peace and reconciliation on our island. Bless her and her family as she prepares to become @PresidentIRL pic.twitter.com/r967Yb1zBW
— Eamon Martin (@ArchbishopEamon) October 25, 2025
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney said he looked forward to working with Ms Connolly "to nurture the deep relationship between Ireland and Scotland".
Warmest congratulations to @catherinegalway on her election as the 10th President of Ireland. I look forward to working with her to nurture the deep relationship between Ireland and Scotland. 🏴 🇮🇪 https://t.co/sWWUnkDOmT
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) October 25, 2025
Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Dr Trevor Gribben also offered his congratulations to president-elect Catherine Connolly on X.
With the result of the Irish Presidential election in, @PCIModerator Dr Trevor Gribben, has offered his congratulations to President-Elect Catherine Connolly, who will become the 10th @PresidentIRL and only the third woman to hold the office. Statement: https://t.co/7iUixV0Nry pic.twitter.com/l8PPAvvfMY
— Presbyterian Church (@pciassembly) October 25, 2025
UK Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn also congratulated Ms Connolly on her "landslide victory".
Congratulations to Catherine Connolly, the next President of Ireland.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) October 25, 2025
Catherine will be a voice for peace, social justice and a united Ireland.
This is a landslide victory for humanity and for hope! pic.twitter.com/ljS97t7tFg
Foreign media covers presidential win
Los Angeles Times
In the US, the Los Angeles Times reported that "left-wing independent Catherine Connolly, who secured the backing of Ireland's left-leaning parties including Sinn Féin, has won the country's presidential election in a landslide victory against her center-right rival".
"Connolly, a former barrister who served as a lawmaker since 2016, has been outspoken in criticizing Israel over the war in Gaza. She has also warned against what she called the European Union's growing 'militarization' since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"Ireland has a tradition of military neutrality, but her critics have said she risks alienating the country's allies."
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe reported that "left-wing independent Catherine Connolly, who secured the backing of Ireland's left-leaning parties including Sinn Féin, has won the country’s presidential election in a landslide victory against her center-right rival".
"Connolly, 68, said Saturday evening at Dublin Castle that she would champion diversity and be a voice for peace and one that 'builds on our policy of neutrality'.
"She added 'I would be an inclusive president for all of you, and I regard it as an absolute honor'."
The Herald on Sunday (Scotland)
The Herald on Sunday in Scotland reported Ms Connolly’s win saying that the rise of the right in the West "may not be so inevitable" after election wins by Plaid Cymru in Wales and a "left-wing republican" in Ireland.
The outlet said "the Irish presidential election produced a resounding win for Catherine Connolly, a left-wing republican endorsed by Kneecap who ran on free public transport; housing as a human right; support for the Irish language; and a referendum on unification – and declared: 'I will stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people as long as I have breath in my body.'
"The role of the Irish president is largely ceremonial, with the head of state in place to uphold the constitution while parliament does the actual passing of laws. But how did someone most Irish people had never heard of until a few months ago come to be in this position? And what could it mean for the rest of Europe?"
Noticias Financieras
Spanish language news outlet Noticias Financieras has reported the result of the Presidential Election saying: "The next president of the Republic of Ireland, the leftist Catherine Connolly, faces the challenge of holding a mainly ceremonial and unifying position in a country where the youth considers her a symbol of change and the most conservative sectors brand her as radical."
It added that she had won a "resounding victory" over Heather Humphreys, "despite the fact that neither generated great enthusiasm among the majority of the electorate.
"The head of state has very limited powers, but the third woman to assume it captured, with a frank and direct style, the attention of the new generations, concerned about the housing crisis, the cost of living or the lack of alternatives to the centre-right bipartisanship in Ireland, which has never had a left-wing Executive."
The Peninsula (Qatar)
The Peninsula Newspaper in Qatar said that "left-wing independent" Catherine Connolly comfortably won the race to be Ireland's new president.
"But the seemingly comprehensive victory was marred by the number of spoilt votes and criticism over the lack of right-wing candidates, amid frustration over issues including immigration and crime.
"Nearly 13 percent of the 1.65 million ballots cast were "invalid", a record in a modern Irish elections."
Ynet news agency (Israel)
"Far-left Irish lawmaker who called Israel a 'terrorist state' elected president in landslide."
The Ynet news agency reported that Ms Connolly, "a far-left lawmaker known for her fierce anti-Israel rhetoric and public refusal to denounce Hamas as illegitimate, was elected president of Ireland in a decisive landslide this week, securing 63.4% of the vote".
"While Ireland's presidency is largely ceremonial, Connolly’s victory - by such a wide margin - is expected to significantly amplify her voice and positions, particularly regarding foreign policy and Israel, in a country already known for its critical stance toward the Jewish state."
The news outlet added; "Connolly has made headlines for her statements equating Israel to a 'terrorist state' and accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza.
"In a recent interview, she called the organization a 'part of the fabric' of the Palestinian people, while condemning the October 7 massacre committed by the group. "[Hamas] were elected by the people the last time there was an election," she noted, referencing the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections. 'They are part of the civil society of Palestine'.
"She did not mention Hamas’ 2007 violent coup in Gaza or the group’s ongoing campaign of repression, including public executions and the suppression of political rivals."
