Fine Gael presidential candidate Heather Humphreys has said her family was subject to "awful sectarian abuse" during the campaign.
Ms Humphreys is a Presbyterian who was raised on a rural farm near the border.
She spoke during her campaign for the presidency about how she attended Orange Order parades as a child but stopped going when the Troubles broke out.
"My family and I, but especially my family, were subjected to some absolutely awful sectarian abuse and I was disappointed because, as a country, I thought we had moved on from that.
"I think there needs to be a greater understanding of other traditions in this country and perhaps that's something that maybe I can contribute towards because there is a lot of misunderstanding out there and if we are ever to have a united Ireland we have to respect all traditions."
Heather Humphreys says she found "sectarianism" in the campaign difficult. She was speaking at the count centre for Cavan Monaghan @rtenews pic.twitter.com/ul1oEIzn5r
— Una Kelly (@UnaKelly3) October 25, 2025
Ms Humphreys also 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".
Speaking to media at the Cavan-Monaghan count centre, Ms Humphreys said: "I really would like to wish her all the very, very best."
She said thanked supporters, "especially, of course, the people in Cavan and Monaghan, who really have turned out in huge numbers to support me".
Ms Humphreys said the campaign was "busy" and she "really enjoyed it".
"I went to every part of this country, to every county, and I got a wonderful welcome from many, many people and I enjoyed it," she said.
"What it did teach me was this is a wonderful country and we should be very proud of it, and I'm glad that I took the opportunity in August to go forward.
"This is democracy and I really want to wish Catherine all the very, very best."
'Not one regret'
Ms Humphreys said she "stepped up to the plate" and has no regrets.
"That's what democracy is about. It's about people putting their name on the ballot paper, about people going forward. So I have absolutely not one regret and I'm glad I did it."
She said she has always tried to "honestly answer" all questions asked of her, adding that she and her family received some "awful" abuse.
"I would say that I found the piece about sectarianism very difficult. My family and I, but especially my family, were subject to some absolutely awful sectarian abuse and I was disappointed because as a country I thought we had moved on from that," she said.
"I do think there needs to be a greater understanding of other traditions in this country and perhaps that's something that maybe I can contribute towards, because there's a lot of misunderstanding out there and if we're ever to have a united Ireland we have to respect all traditions.
"That is something that I think should be looked at."
Hard luck @HeatherH You stepped into the breach, late in the day, when our candidate withdrew. You've carried your home constituency where people know you best. You've held the FG vote and some. Hold your head high girl.
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) October 25, 2025
Election produced a 'decisive and clear' result - Harris
Tánaiste Simon Harris described the result of the Presidential Election as decisive and clear, adding that the campaign was well run.
Mr Harris congratulated Catherine Connolly, saying "her success will be our country's success".
He thanked his party's candidate Heather Humphreys, saying that she was a great friend, candidate and colleague.
"She stepped into the breach nearly at the last minute.
"She gave it her all, hundreds and thousands of people came out and voted for her yesterday. She carried herself with great dignity.
"We always knew this election was going to be a challenge, really once it became a contest between two candidates, it was a defining moment when the Fianna Fáil candidate wasn't able to continue any longer."
Mr Harris said that Ms Humphreys was the right candidate, describing her as excellent, despite having huge respect and time for Sean Kelly. He said that Ms Humphreys "shined right across the country", adding that the party has been fully behind her.
He said that he did not accept that the campaign was negative, and that it was ok to ask robust questions of your opponents.
Meanwhile, former taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar commiserated with Ms Humphreys. On X, he said that despite the loss of the election, Ms Humphreys should "hold your head high".
'Gave everything she had'
Fine Gael's Director of Elections for the Presidential campaign, Martin Heydon congratulated Ms Connolly and her team, but thanked Heather Humphreys saying that she "gave everything she had" over the last two months.
He told RTÉ News that despite the poor showing at the polls, he was proud of his party's campaign.
"Ultimately, we all want the next president of Ireland to be a successful president in her tenure, and she'll (Catherine Connolly) have our full support for that."
Mr Heydon said Fine Gael was very proud to have competition in the field. He said that his party did not opt out when Mairead McGuinness dropped out.
He said Heather Humphreys was a "different candidate" from Ms McGuinness in terms of their public roles, adding that they had different strengths and attributes.
He said that Catherine Connolly was in the field very early and had a long lead in time, which he said has proven to be a successful strategy. He added that his party never envisaged that it would be only two candidates, and that it very quickly became a binary choice between establishment and anti-establishment.
He added that Fine Gael was the only party that put forward its own candidate to contest the whole way through, and the lack of choice was because other parties did not do that.
He said within the Oireachtas nomination system there was the capacity to nominate up to 8 candidates.
Mr Heydon said Sinn Féin alone could have ensured that two extra candidates were on the ballot paper.
He said that he would have liked to see more candidates in the field as it would have given people more choice.
