Next Irish President Odds & Betting

Ireland will vote for its next president at the end of October 2025, a crucial ceremonial and constitutional role that sits separately from the Taoiseach.

Michael D. Higgins has been the Irish president since 2011, but who is in line to replace him? At the time of writing, it’s a two-horse race between Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys.

Learn more about how the Irish presidential election works, consider the candidates, and place your bets on Irish politics today at talkSPORT BET Sportsbook.

The 2025 Irish presidential election will occur on Friday, October 24th. The winner will become Ireland's tenth president. Michael D. Higgins has reached the end of his two-term limit under the Irish constitution and will vacate the post he has held since 2011.

Ireland is a republic, so it has a president alongside a prime minister (Taoiseach). The roles are very different, but both figures play an essential role in running the country.

The president is the head of state and primarily a ceremonial role, representing Ireland at home and abroad. The president also has a key constitutional role, signing bills into law, formally appointing the Taoiseach, and acting as a guardian of the constitution.

The prime minister, on the other hand, is the leader of the Irish government and is responsible for setting national policy. The Taoiseach is equivalent to the prime minister in the UK and Northern Ireland.

To be eligible to stand for the role of president, a person must be Irish, 35+, and be nominated by either 20 members of the Irish Parliament (Oireachtas), four or more local authorities, or by the outgoing former president.

Ireland uses an instant run off system to elect its president, a form of proportional representation. Voters choose their candidate by preference (1, 2, 3, etc.), and if no candidate gets over 50%, the lowest-voted candidate is eliminated and their second votes are transferred according to second preferences.

The first candidate to pass 50% wins the election and is appointed as the Irish president.

Three names will be on the ballot in the 2025 Irish presidential vote: Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys, and Jim Gavin.

However, Gavin withdrew from the process at the start of October, so it’s a two-horse race between Connolly and Humphreys. Here’s what you should know about the candidates before backing them:

Catherine Connolly

Catherine Connolly is the front-runner to be elected as the next Irish president. She’s an independent candidate who has served as the TD for Galway West since 2016, and she has also held the office of Galway Mayor.

She officially launched her presidential campaign on July 11th and was endorsed by the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, 100% Redress, and several high-profile independent politicians in Ireland.

She’s regarded as a left-wing independent political with socialist leanings, and she identifies as pacifist and areligious, though she was raised as a Catholic.

Heather Humphreys

Connolly’s opponent in the 2025 presidential race is Heather Humphreys. She is best known as a Fine Gael politician who has held several cabinet positions between 2014 and 2025.

Though she initially ruled herself out of the 2025 bid for the presidency, she announced that she would stand for Fine Gael after Mairead McGuinness withdrew in August 2025.

She secured the party’s nomination in September, and given her upbringing near the Northern Irish border, she has spoken throughout her campaign of peace, reconciliation, and building bridges.

Humphreys comes from a Protestant background, and controversy sparked when it was revealed she had ties to the Orange Order.

Why Did Jim Gavin Withdraw?

Several controversies led to Jim Gavin’s withdrawal from the race. There was a scandal relating to an unpaid rent repayment to a former tenant and reports of unlicensed drone usage during his campaign.

He also cited personal issues and the impact that the increased scrutiny was having on his family and friends as reasons for withdrawing from the race so close to election day. Because of his late withdrawal, his name will still appear on the ballot.

You can bet on Irish politics at talkSPORT BET. After researching and deciding who you think will become the next president of Ireland, head to our homepage, click “Sign Up”, and provide your personal details to complete the registration form.

Then, check our offers page to see if you can access a free bet or bonus and deposit cash to fund your betting slip.

You can then browse our list of candidates and bet on Catherine Connolly or Heather Humphreys to become the next Irish president. This is a win-only market, so your candidate must be elected for you to receive a payout.

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