Catherine Connolly, a veteran lawmaker known for her far-left positions, is poised to become Ireland's next president after early vote counts showed her with a significant lead. Connolly, an independent and long-time critic of the European Union, was not widely recognized at the start of the campaign but has since gained substantial support. Her comments describing Hamas as 'part of the fabric of the Palestinian people' have sparked controversy, though she later condemned their actions and criticized Israel's conduct in Gaza. Members of the governing parties have conceded defeat, and government officials are preparing to work with her in the largely ceremonial presidential role.