Presidential Election

President Michael D Higgins makes his victory speech afterhis re-election was announced at Dublin Castle. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire President Michael D Higgins vows to ‘represent Ireland’s voice’ over next seven years

Casey polls strongly to finish second while voters back removal of blasphemy offence

Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina arrive at Dublin Castle for the count. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire Miriam Lord: Higgins hits right notes in right speech at right time
Presidential candidates: Gavin Duffy; Joan Freeman; Liadh Ní Riada; Peter Casey; Sean Gallagher and the victor, Michael D. Higgins. How the presidential campaign went wrong for four out of six candidates
FULL ELECTION RESULTS
Galway Traveller Movement members Anne Ward and Annie McDonagh. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy. Galway Travellers renew campaign to ‘build bridges’
Ryan Tubridy and Peter Casey during last Friday’s ‘Late Late Show’. Photograph: Screengrab/RTÉ Peter Casey expresses shock at ‘insulting’ treatment on ‘Late Late Show’
Peter Casey: Targeting Travellers and social-welfare recipients wasn’t about winning the presidency. It was an investment for the future, an attempt to find his constituency. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Sean Moncrieff: Peter Casey has done the State some service but not as he intended
President Michael D Higgins ‘is committed to establishing an audit committee’, a spokesman said. Photograph: Martial Trezzini/EPA Higgins begins work on group to audit €317,000 allowance
Peter Casey ‘appears to advocate a return to the assimilationist policies of the past’ in relation to Travellers. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Peter Casey will not succeed in winding clock back on Travellers
Peter Casey ‘showed during and after the election that he doesn’t know the first thing about politics’. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters Peter Casey’s success shows Irish media and politicians need to get real
President Michael D Higgins said during the election campaign that he would explain how the unaudited €317,000 allowance for his office is spent – but would only do so after the election. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire The Irish Times view on the Áras’s finances: transparency is vital
Irish presidential runner-up Peter Casey: made no attempt to meet any Travellers as he didn’t want to “invade their privacy”. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Kathy Sheridan: Peter Casey’s flaws of ignorance
Peter Casey casts his vote at the polling station in Greencastle National School, Co Donegal, in the presidential election. Photograph: PA Donegal FF councillors say Peter Casey welcome to join party
The site of the new Traveller development at Cabragh Bridge in Thurles, Co Tipperary. Travellers in Casey storm ‘not surprised’ by surge in support
Peter Casey has threated to set up a new party called New Fianna Fáil. Photograph: PA Peter Casey must get elected if he wants Renua leadership
‘Hysteria can turn moral decency into hatred, and hatred can make monsters of us all.’ File photograph: David Sleator Fintan O’Toole: Fascism lurks beneath the surface of Irish society
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and failed presidential candidate Peter Casey. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Peter Casey controversy shows Ireland must change its response to prejudice
Presidential runner-up Peter Casey in Dublin Castle on Saturday. Photograph: Tom Honan Peter Casey will set up ‘New Fianna Fáil’ if party objects to his membership
In the RTÉ/Red C poll Peter Casey easily outscored the other presidential election candidates on “the ability to stand up for ordinary people”. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters Casey phenomenon no harbinger of new form of populist politics
Peter Casey “clearly spoke to the only experience many people have of Travellers, which is negative”. Photograph: PA Kitty Holland: Support for Casey reflects rage of those feeling left behind
The polling station on Tory Island, off the coast of Co Donegal. Peter Casey received 12,952 votes in Donegal, Michael D Higgins got 15,052. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire Forgotten Donegal emblematic of neglected swathes of Ireland
Joan Freeman arrives at Dublin Castle to attend the count. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Brave effort by Freeman hampered by lack of experience
“For the majority, this guy seemed to speak a common person’s language,” says Independent Cllr Shaun Cunniffe of Peter Casey. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Tuam: ‘It’s important Traveller groups don’t get carried away’
President Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina, at Dublin Castle on Saturday. Photograph: Tom Honan Higgins begins preparations for second term after landslide victory
If Peter Casey had not shot up from nowhere to second place, the performance of the Sinn Féin candidate Liadh Ní Riada would have been the story of the election. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Debrief on dismal election will not be pretty for Sinn Féin
During the campaign, Michael D Higgins divided his diary between presidential obligations and the campaign. There is no doubt it conferred some advantage to him. Photograph: Reuters/ Clodagh Kilcoyne Presidential Commission could have taken over duties during campaign
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD casts his vote at Scoil Thomáis, Laural Lodge, Castleknock, Dublin. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw for The Irish Times Varadkar insists he is not planning on calling a general election
President Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina. Photograph: Tom Honan What’s next for Michael D Higgins as he embarks on his next seven years?
President Michael D. Higgins makes his acceptance speech. Photograph: Reuters/ Clodagh Kilcoyne President expected to devote more time to Northern Ireland
Presidential candidate Seán Gallagher with his wife, Patricia, at Dublin Castle. Photograph: Reuters/ Clodagh Kilcoyne Seán Gallagher says he makes ‘no excuses’ for his reduced vote
Peter Casey received his highest support nationally in Tipperary – the constituency where he criticised a number of Traveller families for refusing to accept offered council houses. Photograph: Niall Carson/ PA Wire ‘No votes’ in trying to help Travellers, says Renua’s John Leahy
Presidential election ballot papers at the Convention Centre, Dublin. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins Higgins secures largest number of votes in presidential election history
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD at the count centre for the presidential election & blasphemy referendum in the Convention Centre, Dublin. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins Mary Lou McDonald denies it was a mistake to hold election
Businessman Gavin Duffy secured just over 2 per cent of the vote in the presidential election. Photograph: Gareth Chaney Collins Gavin Duffy may have lost more than just his expenses
President Michael D Higgins speaking in Dublin Castle on Saturday after he was re-elected. Photograph: Collins ‘Words matter. Words can hurt’ - Michael D Higgins’s acceptance speech in full
Peter Casey: ‘I’ll definitely not be standing as a county councillor, that’s far too much hard work.’ Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins Micheál Martin pours cold water on Casey’s plan to join Fianna Fáil
One Meath East voter showed a preference for Dustin the Turkey when voting in the presidential election. File photograph: Alan Betson Bertie Ahern, Donald Trump, Dustin the Turkey get votes in presidential election
There was a spike in tweets at 10pm on Friday when The Irish Times exit poll was published. Visualisation: Vincent Ryan Visualisation shows Twitter activity in run-up to presidential election
President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina. Photograph: Tom Honan/The Irish Times May congratulates Higgins on victory
President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina. Photograph: Tom Honan/The Irish Times 'Irish Times' view on the presidential election: vacuous contest, predictable end
Presidential candidate Liadh Ni Riada at the results centre for the presidential election in Dublin Castle on Saturday. Photograph: Collins Sinn Féin’s presidential campaign was a failure
Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina arrive at Dublin Castle for the count. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire Miriam Lord: Higgins hits right notes in right speech at right time
President Michael D Higgins makes his victory speech afterhis re-election was announced at Dublin Castle. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire President Michael D Higgins vows to ‘represent Ireland’s voice’ over next seven years
Speaking after the formal count in the election was completed, Joan Freeman praised “courage of the candidates”. Freeman pays tribute to Áras contenders’ courage
Michael D Higgins gives a speech following the announcement of his re-election as President at Dublin Castle. Photograph: Gareth Chaney Collins ‘Words matter’: President Michael D Higgins warns against divisive language
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: “Highly unlikely” that Peter Casey would now be joining the Fine Gael party. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins Varadkar refuses to apologise to Casey as he welcomes Higgins win
Leo Varadkar: “An element of anti-Traveller sentiment” behind at least some of the vote received by Peter Casey. Photograph: Tom Honan/The Irish Times. Varadkar: ‘Imagine what we could have done with a majority’
Presidential candidates: Gavin Duffy; Joan Freeman; Liadh Ní Riada; Peter Casey; Sean Gallagher and the victor, Michael D. Higgins. How the presidential campaign went wrong for four out of six candidates
Sinn Féin’s Liadh Ní Riada: “I was a candidate for everybody.” Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Ní Riada insists united Ireland resonated with public
Independent TD Michael Lowry, whose Holycross home is just a few kilometres from the Cabragh Bridge site, said he was not surprised by Peter Casey’s result in the election. Lowry says he understands the frustrations of people who voted for Casey
Kathleen Lawrence, who works at Traveller outreach programme Pavee Point, said that Mr Casey’s vote must be analysed. Casey ‘kidding himself’ over election votes, says Traveller
Seán Gallagher and his wife Trish at the results centre in Dublin Castle. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins Trio of Dragons may have split vote, says Gallagher
Gavin Duffy and his wife Orlaith Carmody at the result centre for the Presidential Election at Dublin Castle on Saturday. Photograph: Collins Duffy’s only regret is losing over €100,000 in election campaign
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin at the Cork city presidential election count. Photograph: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision Micheál Martin: Don’t read too much into Peter Casey result
President Michael D Higgins: he won with a resounding majority, the largest ever in a national election. Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times Michael D Higgins vs Peter Casey: some perspective is important
Presidential candidate Peter Casey arriving at Dublin Castle on Saturday where the final results will be announced. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters Casey vote viewed as protest rather than unleashing of an Irish Trump
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald (L) and Liadh Ni Riada canvassing in the Cabra area of Dublin last week. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire Sinn Féin stands ‘absolutely over decision’ to run presidential candidate
Peter Casey decided to save his floundering campaign by picking at the scab of Ireland’s deepest prejudice. Photograph: Collins Fintan O’Toole: Casey didn’t create an audience – it found him
Presidential election candidates at the RTÉ Prime Time Presidential Debate; the final all-candidate TV debate of the campaign on Tuesday October 23rd. From left: Joan Freeman; Liadh Ní Riada, Michael D Higgins, Sean Gallagher, Peter Casey and Gavin Duffy. Photograph: Julien Behal Presidential campaign key points: Traveller comments, expenses and jets
Joan Freeman, Liadh Ní Riada, Michael D Higgins, Seán Gallagher, Peter Casey and Gavin Duffy. Surely some only marginally-compromised elder statesfolk could have been conjured up to give Higgins some proper competition? Photograph: Tom Honan President Peter Casey: we were secretly on his side all along
President Michael D Higgins: has made European defence and security part of a critical questioning of market assumptions, historical amnesia and the lack of an ethical dimension in Irish public life. Photograph: Collins Neutrality and military alliance left out of presidential debate
President incumbent Michael D Higgins received 77 per cent of the first preference ‘virtual votes’ in an Irish Times Abroad online poll of Irish people living overseas this week. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Three in four emigrants surveyed would have voted for Michael D Higgins
Annie and Tommy McDonagh, members of the Travelling community from Galway’s east side, cast their votes. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy Galway Travellers vote after Casey’s comments ‘ignite the community’
Presidential candidate Peter Casey casts his vote at the polling station in Greencastle National School, Co Donegal. Photograph: Rebecca Black/PA Wire Peter Casey got support from 28% of rural voters – poll
Peter Casey’s strength was relatively consistent across all age groups, apart from the youngest demographic. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters Higgins wins more than 50% of votes across almost all regions
LJ McAlevay casts her vote at St Laurence O’Toole CBS in Sherrif Stree with her daughter Maisie (5). Photograph: Donall Farmer/The Irish Times Presidential election: Dublin city turnout 40.91% and county lower
Irish Times exit poll: Higgins set to win, surge for Casey
Garda Sgt John Gallagher and presiding officer Carmel McBride deliver a ballot box to Inishbofin island, off Co Galway, for the Irish presidential election and referendum on blasphemy. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire The Irish Times view on polling day: make your vote count
From left, presiding officer Carmel McBride, Garda Sgt John Gallagher and Irish Air Corp helicopter crewman Craig Cullen deliver a ballot box to Inishbofin Island. Photograph: Niall Carson/ PA Wire Mixed turnout as ballot boxes from 12 islands delivered to count centres
Marian Roarty presiding officer and Garda Eamonn McGinley after arriving by helicopter on Tory Island, off the coast of Co Donegal, with a ballot box for the presidential election and referendum on blasphemy. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire Presidential election: Everything you need to know before voting
The exit poll is being conducted by Ipsos/MRBI among approximately 4,500 respondents at 160 polling stations in every constituency. Presidential election: The Irish Times to publish exit poll
Morgan Fagg, Madrid: ‘I’m taking a day off work, spending €123 on Ryanair flights, €80 on Hertz rental, and all the additional costs of travelling home, but keeping the poet in my opinion, is priceless.’ 'It's not worth the airfare': Why emigrants aren't #hometovote
National Army soldiers in action at O’Connell Street, Dublin during the Civil War. Marking often divisive events from Irish history will be a task for the next president. How would they do it? Photograph: Irish Photographic Archive. Presidential election: How would candidates handle ‘difficult’ Decade of Centenaries?
Conor Pope (left) of The Irish Times chatted to members of the public about the candidates in Dublin city centre Presidential face: Would you be able to identify the candidates?
The candidates: Gavin Duffy, Joan Freeman, Liadh Ní Riada, Peter Casey, Sean Gallagher and President Michael D Higgins In profile: The six candidates running for the presidency
Presidential candidate Seán Gallagher with his wife Trish, at Loreto College, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times Seán Gallagher: ‘Is Michael D hiding something on expenses?’
Presidential candidates Gavin Duffy (third from left); Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada; Peter Casey; Sean Gallagher and Senator Joan Freeman pictured alongside Matt Cooper and Ivan Yates (at far left) on Virgin Media One’s The Tonight Show Presidential Election Special. Photograph: Brian McEvoy Disputes among three Dragons’ Den candidates dominate final presidential debate
Éamon Ó Cuív has moved legislation, which is at committee stage, to allow islands to vote on the same day as the mainland. Photograph: Getty Images Polling stations open on 12 offshore islands on Thursday
Brendan Howlin: he said it was “amazing” that the government jet issue was persisting. Turnout in presidential election could be below 50%, Labour leader warns
This should be the last presidential election that excludes emigrants
The programme attracted an average audience of 446,000 viewers for the two hour programme on RTÉ One. Photograph: RTÉ Player Almost 900,000 people tuned in for the presidential debate
Peter Casey: ’We’re far too politically correct’. Also pictured at last night’s debate is Joan Freeman. Photograph Tom Honan/The Irish Times. Casey: I will step down after five years as president
Prime Time’s presidential debate: moderator David McCullagh with Joan Freeman, Liadh Ní Riada, Michael D Higgins, Seán Gallagher, Peter Casey and Gavin Duffy. Photograph: Julien Behal ‘Sorry, I’m a little confused,’ Joan Freeman said. She wasn’t the only one
Candidates during the ’Prime Time’ presidential debate. Photograph: Julien Behal Photography Michael D survives presidential debate
As for the incumbent, questions remain unanswered and his sometime tetchy demeanour suggests a man who after seven long years of presidential adulation has grown unaccustomed to being questioned. Photograph: Frank Miller Closer scrutiny of the presidency may be the real result of this election
Presidential candidates Senator Joan Freeman, MEP Liadh Ní Riada, President Michael D Higgins, Seán Gallagher, Peter Casey and Gavin Duffy ahead of the debate on RTÉ’s ‘Prime Time’. Photograph: Tom Honan for The Irish Times Miriam Lord: Clash between Coyote Casey and Talking Tea Cosy disappoints
Presidential candidates Senator Joan Freeman, MEP Liadh Ní Riada, President Michael D Higgins, Seán Gallagher, Peter Casey and Gavin Duffy gather for RTÉ’s Prime Time debate. Photograph: Tom Honan Presidential debate: Higgins attacked for use of Government jet
Are you coming #hometovote this week? Irish abroad: Are you flying home to vote this Friday?
The presidential election takes place on Friday, October 26th. Gallagher changes mind and will take part in all remaining debates
President Michael D Higgins: ‘As far as I am concerned, I am very happy with the official PSNI statement. I welcome it, I agree with it, and I am happy to reciprocate to it by again expressing my thanks for their co-operation and courtesy.’ Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Michael D Higgins and the Government jet: how the story took off
Michael D Higgins: ‘What people will vote for on Friday is my record and my probity as a public representative for so long and in so many different offices.’ Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire Higgins ‘shares concern’ over return to violence in North
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (centre right) canvassing with Fine Gael ministers in support of Michael D Higgins in Dublin. Photograph: Cate McCurry/PA Wire Varadkar defends Higgins over use of Government jet
Áras an Uachtaráin: I would not trade any of our recent presidents for all the crowned heads of Europe. Photograph: Frank Miller Fintan O'Toole: Irish presidents are the best in the world
President Michael D Higgins launching his Shared Ireland, Shared Island initiative at Droichead Arts Centre in Drogheda, Co Louth, on Monday. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire Higgins faces more turbulence over use of Government jet
SDLP veteran Séamus Mallon: helped President Michael D Higgins launch his “Shared Ireland, Shared Island” initiative at Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Mallon blames ‘limping British government’ for poor relations with Ireland
Presidential candidate Joan Freeman: said she could never have been associated with an organisation that would “exclude” her daughter “because of her sexual orientation”. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Candidate had not wanted daughter ‘dragged into campaign’
Irish presidential candidate Peter Casey said the Irish Air Corps fleet should be replaced by a dozen helicopters. Photograph: PA Wire People who get up early are the ones who ‘need help’, says Casey
Peter Casey: ‘The Taoiseach knows I’m not racist. I’m not saying anything that shouldn’t be said’. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Peter Casey criticises Varadkar for ‘telling people not to vote for me’
Peter Casey: his opinions on Travellers are not welcome in modern Ireland. Photograph: Don Moloney/Press 22 Una Mullally: Peter Casey’s views on Travellers are embarrassing
President Michael D Higgins speaking at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght. Photograph: Cyril Byrne / THE IRISH TIMES The Irish Times view on the presidential campaign