© UnknownIreland's President Michael D. Higgins
Micheal D Higgins has been re-elected as President of Ireland.
Sitting comfortably on top of the polls since the campaign began,
the incumbent sailed through to a win on the first count with 822,566 first preference votes or 55.8 per cent of total valid votes. During an impassioned acceptance speech, President Higgins said:
"People have made a choice as to which version of Irishness they prefer... I will be a President for all of the people."Businessman Peter Casey, who struggled at just 2pc in the polls last week, soared into second place with 342,727 votes (23.3pc).
Sean Gallagher, who came second in his 2011 bid, achieved just 94,514 votes, coming in third with 6.41pc.
© Screenshot Kyran O'Bryan/Mark CondrenPresident Higgins and wife Sabina • Peter Casey
came fourth, with 93,987 votes (6.37pc). Joan Freeman earned just 87,908 votes (6.0pc), while
Gavin Duffy failed to make an impression on the electorate and gained just 32,198 votes (2.2pc).
In the Presidential Election, there were a total of 1,473,900 valid votes.Michael D Higgins used his re-election speech to call for
an end to the "scourge of violence against women". The President promised to represent everybody in the country, regardless of whether they voted for him or not.
And in a thinly veiled reference to the debate about the Traveller community which dominated the campaign, Mr Higgins said:
"Words matter. Words can hurt. Words can heal. Words can empower. Words can divide." He promised to identify those facing exclusion in society, which he said was
"more than just eliminating barriers, it means the exercising of new initiations. A real Republic is a Republic of equality, of shared vulnerabilities and of collective capacities. A real Republic is one where every person is encouraged and supported to participate fully and where every person and community is treated with dignity and respect."
The 77-year-old received the largest ever mandate in the history of the State, albeit from the lowest ever turnout in a presidential election. He received 822,566 votes, amounting to 55.8pc of the vote.
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