Catherine Connolly's election as president has added a new dynamic to Irish politics | Justine McCarthy

"The magical ingredient required to become the president of Ireland is as mysterious as what Coca-Cola puts into its fizzy drink, but legions of voters think Catherine Connolly has it. The leftwing, independent TD (member of parliament) with the quiet composure and austere appearance of a contemplative nun has won an overwhelming victory to succeed the outgoing national treasure, 84-year-old poet Michael D Higgins."

"Her choice as the republic's 10th head of state in a contest so bizarre it might have been scripted by Basil Fawlty has left the two government parties reeling. Fianna Fail's candidate, Jim Gavin, hand-picked by the taoiseach, Micheal Martin, for his accomplishments in sport and the cultural bastion of the Gaelic Athletic Association, withdrew after it emerged he had failed since 2009 to refund 3,300 owed to a former tenant. Gavin's name remained on the ballot paper as a ghost candidate."

"Sinn Fein, the biggest opposition party, announced last month that it was supporting Connolly's candidacy. When the party's leader, Mary Lou McDonald, promised that this decision would be an election gamechanger, commentators scoffed, some gamechanger. The five leftwing parties in the Dail Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and the Greens forged an unprecedented collaboration to support Connolly's independent candidacy. Her triumph has therefore exploded the shibboleth that the fractured left is an immovable obstacle to Sinn Fein ever forming a government."

Catherine Connolly achieved an overwhelming victory to become Ireland's 10th president. She is a leftwing independent TD known for quiet composure and an austere, contemplative appearance. The contest was bizarre and left the two government parties reeling after Fianna Fail's candidate Jim Gavin withdrew following revelations he had failed since 2009 to refund 3,300 to a former tenant, leaving his name on the ballot as a ghost candidate. Sinn Fein and four other leftwing parties forged an unprecedented collaboration to support Connolly's independent candidacy. Her triumph challenged the belief that a fractured left prevents Sinn Fein from forming government and ran counter to wider EU rightward trends. Connolly was not a perfect candidate but she had two big advantages.

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