The Labour Party's Michael D Higgins has been officially confirmed as the ninth Irish president.

爱尔兰工党迈克尔·D·希金斯被正式确认为国内第九任总统。

The poet and campaigner received 701,101 first-preference votes - almost 40% of the total.

His victory over one-time favourite Sean Gallagher was evident within an hour of the ballot¹ boxes being opened.

He was elected on the fourth count with 1,007,104 votes.

Mr Gallagher received 628,114 votes.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Higgins said he wanted to be a president for all the people.

He said Irish people had to work together to tackle their shared problems.

"We must now work to our strengths at home and abroad, not only cooperatively and collectively but sustainably for the benefit of all of our present generations and those to come," he said.

"The necessary transformation² of which I speak and of which my presidency³ will be a part is built on turning creative possibilities into living realities for all our people."

He also announced that from "this moment" he would cease to be a member and president of the Irish Labour party.

'Transformation'

"The presidency is an independent office and the Irish people whom I appreciate so much and I take with such responsibility have given a very clear mandate⁴（授权，命令） on a very clear set of ideas to me, as the ninth president," he said.

Speaking on Friday night, Mr Higgins said his seven-year term would be marked by inclusion, ideas and transformation.

"I'm very, very happy. It is something I prepared for, something I thought about for a long while," he said.

"I am very glad as well that it is a presidency built on a campaign that emphasised ideas. I hope it will be a presidency that will enable everybody to be part of and proud of."

Mr Higgins will be inaugurated（使正式就职） on Armistice⁵ Day, 11 November, the day after current president Mary McAleese leaves office.

At the end of the third count on Saturday, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness and Gay Mitchell of Fine Gael, were both excluded. Mr McGuinness had 265,196 votes and Mr Mitchell was on 136,309.

The quota⁶ Mr Higgins had to reach was 885,882 votes.

Mr Gallagher received 504,964 first-preference votes, while Mr McGuinness, Sinn Fein, came in third with 243,030 votes.

Independents Dana Rosemary Scallon and Mary Davis were eliminated on the first count. Dana Rosemary Scallon received 51,220 votes and Mary Davis 48,657 votes.

On the second count independent David Norris was excluded. He received 113,321 votes which were then redistributed.