The turn-out of stars for the inauguration of President Donald Trump was pitiful. However, stars of stage and screen turned out in their droves to the numerous March for Women that took place all across the world yesterday, in protest against the ascension to the Oval Office of a man who has expressed an historic level of misogyny among US Presidents.

In contrast to the Irish American dancer Michael Flatley, star of Outland, Catriona Balfe, from Monaghan marched in Edinburgh, posting a series of pics to her Twitter account and announcing her support for her “American sisters and women everywhere.” In addition to her work as as a highly successful actress, Balfe is also a patron of World Child Cancer.

In Washington, meanwhile, Madonna, Scarlett Johannsen and America Ferrera all spoke to the huge crowd that gathered to express their opposition to Donald Trump. Madonna, who had humorously offered blow jobs to people who voted against Donal Trump in the build-up to the election, took to the podium, telling the enormous crowd: "It feels like we all stepped into a false sense of comfort, that justice would prevail and that good would win in the end.”

But that was not all...

"The revolution starts here," the singer added. "The fight for the right to be free, to be who we are, to be equal."

America Ferrera, best known for her starring role in Ugly Betty, highlighted the hostility of the incoming administration to immigrants as well as women.

“It’s a heartbreaking time to be both a woman and an immigrant,” she said, adding: “ ur dignity, our character, our rights, have all been under attack and a platform of hate and division assumed power.”

Scarlett Johannsen was among the most eloquent of the speakers.

“President Trump, I did not vote for you,” she stated. “That said I respect that you are President elect and I want to be able to support you. But first I ask that you support me, support my sister, support my mother, support my daughter, who may as a result of the appointments that you made grow up in a country that is moving backwards not forwards, and who may not potentially have the right to make choices for her body and her future that your daughter Ivanka has been privileged to have."

"I ask you to support all women and our fight for equality in all things. I pledge my relentless devotion to women's healthcare initiatives. I will not stop fighting to make basic women's healthcare available to all.”

Alicia Keys performed her song ‘Girl On Fire’ as well s doing a spoken word piece.

On Instagram, Katy Perry , shared a childhood photo with her sister Angela. "We should all be guardians for each other,” she stated and added that she would join the march, saying "I am not afraid anymore and I hope I can be an example of fearlessness and resilience."
The singer added that she would "not let anyone suppress me, silence me or clip my wings."

Among the other starswho turned out in protest around the world were Emma Watson, Helen Mirren, Jessica Chastain and Chrissy Teigen, as well as Ireland’s Caitrina Balfe.