Áras 2025: How Mayo voted

Caoimhin Rowland

Published: Sat 25 Oct 2025, 11:08 AM

Last updated: Sat 25 Oct 2025, 8:37 PM

With just over half of Mayo’s boxes opened in the presidential election count, the story emerging from the TF Royal count centre is one of a commanding lead for Catherine Connolly and quiet panic within the Fine Gael camp.

According to the latest tallies, Independent candidate Connolly has stormed ahead with 57% of the vote, putting her on course for a decisive national victory.

FINE GAEL FEAR

Heather Humphreys of Fine Gael is currently languishing on 24%, while spoiled ballots account for a striking 14% of votes, a figure that party insiders fear could yet overtake Humphreys’ national total.

Fianna Fáil’s former nominee, Jim Gavin, who formally withdrew from the race, still registers 6% on Mayo’s tallies.

While the Swinford and Claremorris Local Electoral Areas remain to be tallied, the figures to date suggest an emphatic endorsement of Connolly’s campaign message across Mayo.

SPOILED BALLOTS

A cursory glance at spoiled ballots shows that voters opted to input the names of Enoch Burke, Clint Eastwood, Donald Trump and Gerry Adams, with Maria Steen’s name written in more often than the rest.

Whether these spoiled ballots can overtake the share of Heather Humphrey’s vote nationally will be of particular concern for the government who anticipated the left wing surge but dissenters on the right, evidently dissatisfied with the options on the ballot and the direction of the country looks to rise in significance.

CHAMPION CONNOLLY

As counting continues into the afternoon, the one certainty is that Mayo has delivered a resounding verdict in favour of Catherine Connolly, capping what appears to be one of the most remarkable presidential victories in Irish political history.

ROSE CONWAY WALSH

Sinn Féin poll topper from the 2024 general election joined Caoimhín Rowland and Aidan Crowley for an in-depth discussion on the Connolly victory, what it means for Mayo, spoiled ballots and how it has moved the needle on Irish unity.