Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly is set to become Ireland’s next president after her rival conceded defeat in a presidential election Saturday.

Vote counting was still underway but ahead of the official result, 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.”

“Catherine will be a president for all of us and she will be my president, and I really would like to wish her all the very, very best,” she said.

Polls have suggested consistent and strong voter support for Connolly, 68, over Humphreys, 64, for president, a largely ceremonial role in Ireland.

Connolly, a former barrister and an independent lawmaker since 2016, has been outspoken in criticising Israel over

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