Image source, Reuters

Catherine Connolly will be the 10th President of Ireland, taking over from Michael D Higgins who served the maximum two terms in office.

The pair spoke by phone earlier this evening and President Higgins said she would have his full support as she prepared for her inauguration.

The independent candidate from Galway, who was backed by major left-wing parties, defeated Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys by a landslide number of votes.

The 68-year-old vows to be an "inclusive president" for all as she begins her term in office.

Further reaction to and analysis of can be found here.

Sinn Féin's leader Mary Lou McDonald said the president elect was compassionate and good fun.

"People will find her as a woman of kindness and steel, but a woman with a very open heart.

"People in the north, I think, once they meet her and have contact with her, they will be delighted with her and understand why people came out in record numbers.

"She's an incredible footballer, basketball, hurling you name it, she's a woman of great energy."

Image source, PA Media

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin says an "outstanding honour" has been bestowed upon Catherine Connolly.

"The people have spoken resoundingly and given Catherine a tremendous majority and a very clear mandate.

"I look forward to working with the president-elect in the years ahead."

He also commends Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin for standing.

"It's not easy, it takes courage," he adds.

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Tánaiste (Ireland's deputy prime minister) and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris congratulates Catherine Connolly, her family and her "army of supporters".

"The great thing about this country is that we live in enduring democracy," he added.

"We have an election, we go at it hammer and tongs and then we come together proudly behind the winner of the election."

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Heather Humphreys thanks the people who voted for her.

“I know Catherine will be a president for all of us," she tells the crowd.

"Catherine will be my president and I really want to wish her well. This is her evening."

Holly Fleck
BBC News Northern Ireland

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Connolly says she will be a president who listens, reflects and speaks when necessary.

She says she will be a "voice for peace" and one that builds on the policy of neutrality and "articulates the existential trait imposed by climate change".

"I will raise my voice and our whole mantra during this campaign is we can shape a new republic together."

Holly Fleck
BBC News Northern Ireland

Catherine Connolly thanks the key political figures, family and voters who supported her.

She adds that she will be an inclusive president and will make "no distinction on the basis of votes".

Adam Mandeville
Live page reporter at Dublin Castle

There is pin drop silence inside Dublin Castle as Catherine Connolly addresses the crowd.Earlier, as she entered the room to rapturous applause, she shielded her eyes from the camera flashes.In between the photographs, she hugged many of those who had supported her campaign, including the leaders of Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats and Labour.

Gabija Gataveckaite
BBC News NI Dublin correspondent

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Independent left wing politician Catherine Connolly has been elected Ireland’s 10th president.

In recent weeks Connolly began insisting her campaign was a “movement”.

The race for the role saw the anti-establishment candidate take on Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, the government’s pick for presidential success.

And after an, at times gruelling campaign, it was Connolly who finally won a clear mandate from the people.

But what kind of a president will she be?

Connolly sought out to establish herself as a united Ireland candidate and said she would like to see a border poll on the island of Ireland during her presidency, which runs for seven years.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy told BBC News NI Connolly would “continue” Michael D Higgins’ presidential legacy.

He said “it certainly helped” persuade voters to vote for her when the incumbent had “many similarities” to Connolly.

Adam Mandeville
Live page reporter at Dublin Castle

Image source, Reuters

Catherine Connolly has officially been declared the Republic of Ireland's next president.

She will become the country's 10th president when she takes over the role from Michael D Higgins, who has been in the post since 2011.

Catherine Connolly is now on the podium and the official declaration is expected soon.

Adam Mandeville
Live page reporter at Dublin Castle

It was an election fought, at least in its final stages, between two women, and it is noticeable that the three most prominent party leaders backing Catherine Connolly were also women.

The Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns, the leader from the Labour Party in Ireland Ivana Bacik and president of Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald are standing together in the centre of the room, clearly delighted with this election’s outcome.

As they pose for a photo together, someone in the crowd jokingly calls it a “circle of trust”.

Adam Mandeville
Live page reporter in Dublin Castle

Image source, bbc

Inside Dublin Castle there is a large screen showing the counts across the Republic of Ireland.

There are only two counties left to declare the results of their first count, with everyone in the room keeping a keen eye on the screen.

The room is packed with the key figures in Irish politics and this election’s runner up Heather Humphreys.

When asked about the high number of spoiled votes, the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) says "we have to listen to the people".

"The size of that spoiled vote number is a concern that we have to delve into," Micheál Martin tells RTÉ.

"The system is a bit restrictive in terms of how one gets nominated.

"We're open to change, but we have to work it through with other parties."

Chris Page
BBC News Ireland correspondent

In the last presidential election, Michael D Higgins broke the record for the most first preference votes with 822,566 votes.

Catherine Connolly has already broken that record with more than 876,000 votes under her belt.

Image source, Reuters

Heather Humphreys has also arrived at Dublin Castle to hear the official declaration.

Mary Lou McDonald tells BBC News NI that "sectarian abuse is never acceptable".

She made the comments after Heather Humphreys said she and her family were targeted during her campaign.

Humphreys was raised as a Presbyterian and her father was a member of the Orange Order.

Sinn Féin leader McDonald says work is needed on the issue and Catherine Connolly "would lead on this".

"I accept when Heather says it that it happened and that it hurt," she adds.

The next president of Ireland has arrived at Dublin Castle ahead of the official result being announced.

Image source, Reuters

More than 178,000 votes have been spoiled in this presidential election, according to RTÉ.

By the time 36 of 43 constituencies had been counted, 12.7% - which is 178,355 - of ballot papers had been spoiled.

Dublin Mid West had the highest level of spoiled votes at 20.2%.