Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly is set to become Ireland’s next president after her rival conceded defeat in the country’s presidential election Saturday. Vote counting was still underway but ahead of the official result being declared, Heather Humphreys, of the centre-right party Fine Gael, told reporters that she “wanted to congratulate Catherine Connolly on becoming the next president of Ireland.” Connolly, a former barrister, and an independent lawmaker since 2016, has been outspoken in criticising Israel over the war in Gaza.
