'She served with distinction in this House' - Catherine Connolly toast of the Dail as she's first sitting TD elected to Aras since 1973

"Catherine Connolly is the first sitting TD to be elected President since Erskine Childers in 1973, more than half a century ago, the Dáil has heard."

"Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy hailed the result on the resumption of the Dáil today, noting it was the first time that a sitting female TD had successfully contested a Presidential election."

Catherine Connolly is the first sitting TD to be elected President since Erskine Childers in 1973, ending a gap of more than fifty years between sitting members of the Dáil holding the presidency. The Dáil officially heard the milestone following the election result. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy hailed the outcome on the resumption of the Dáil and noted that it marked the first time a sitting female TD successfully contested and won a Presidential election. The outcome therefore represents both the return of a sitting parliamentarian to the presidency and a historic breakthrough for women in Irish politics.

Read at Irish Independent