What people wrote on spoiled Presidential votes including odd Donald Trump messages

Catherine Connolly is set to become the 10th President of Ireland after a convincing result in the Irish Presidential Election.

While votes are being counted on Saturday, tallies show the Galway TD in a commanding lead over Heather Humphreys and withdrawn candidate Jim Gavin whose name still appeared on the ballot paper.

One of the main talking points from count centres is the sheer volume of spoiled votes tumbling out of boxes. Thousands of spoilt votes are being identified and discounted from the counting process. Only votes with numerical indicators in the boxes beside candidates' names are valid.

Some voters have taken the opportunity presented by this Presidential election to protest the Government and the nomination process for President, including writing bizarre messages that Ireland needs help from US President Donald Trump. Names of people who failed to secure a nomination were also written on some ballots, including Maria Steen, Nick Delahanty and Conor McGregor.

There was an organised effort to get people to spoil their votes in this election. The spoilthevote.ie website lists the following as campaign leaders of the #spoilthevote campaign: Eddie Hobbs, Elaine Mullally, Declan Ganley, Aidan Joyce, Paul Treyvaud, Nick Delahanty, Ivor Cummins and Michael McCarthy.

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Taking to X on Friday, Treyvaud said: "Never knew we had so many budding artists here in Ireland. Some of the #spoilthevote ballots are priceless. And when they try to blame you for being unpatriotic or undemocratic, make sure you look them square in the eye and tell them this is all on them. This is all their fault. Like the ballot sheet, choose your own colourful way to get that message across."

Many have been posting images of their spoilt votes on social media. These included anti-Government sentiment, messages about immigration, the Citywest protests and the lack of choice on the ballot paper. You can see a sample of what was written on ballot papers below: 

'Maria Steen No. 1'

'President Trump, please save our country'

'President Trump, Ireland needs your help'

'Shame on FG/FF'

'She was only 10, the State failed her'

'Mass deportations now'

An X put in all three candidate boxes

A number of people drew a picture of Maria Steen's handbag. One appeared with the caption, 'bought with her own money'

'From Republic to regime'

'The Irish Government is guilty of treason'

'#IrelandIsFull'

'Ireland for the Irish'

'Get Them Out'

'Close all IPAS centres'

'None of the above'

'No. 1 Dustin The Turkey'