'Catherine will be a president for all of us'

While the count is still ongoing, Humphreys said: "Catherine will be a president for all of us and she will be my president, and I really would like to wish her all the very, very best. "I have absolutely not one regret."

Simon Harris whose party nominated Humphreys also commented that Connolly will be a president 'for all this country and for all of us'.

The final result will be officially declared later today once all 43 constituencies have completed counting.

Connolly previously said that she was 'absolutely delighted' with the tallies showing that she was on the path to victory.

Connolly will be following in the footsteps of Douglas Hyde, Seán T O'Kelly, Éamon de Valera, Erskine Childers, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, Patrick Hillery, Mary Robinson; Mary McAleese and Michael D Higgins.

Judging from how past elections have gone, we can expect to have the first result by mid-afternoon and the national count to be confirmed in early evening.

In the last two presidential elections, we have had confirmation of the new president at 7.35pm and 9pm.