Irish Presidential Election Turnout Climbs Amid Regional Variations

Voter turnout in the 2025 Irish presidential election has been generally low but showed signs of increasing as polling stations approached closing time at 10pm, with some areas like Donegal reporting turnout as high as 25%, while others such as West Donegal and parts of Tipperary recorded much lower figures, some below 10%. Across various regions including Shannonside, turnout started slowly but climbed steadily throughout the day, with specific areas reporting turnouts ranging from 3.2% to 16%. The election features a contest mainly between Independent candidate Catherine Connolly, supported by left-wing parties, and Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys, a former minister. Connolly positions herself as a voice for peace and unity, with a background as a psychologist and barrister, while Humphreys emphasizes her government experience and centrist, pro-European stance. The campaign has also been marked by controversies, such as Connolly's hiring decision and criticisms faced by Humphreys regarding her stance on sensitive issues. Both candidates voted early in the day, with outgoing President Michael D Higgins also casting his ballot, as the nation awaited the impact of voter engagement on the election outcome.