Sorry mods but I felt that this was an important contribution to the debate and should be seen. Feel free to lock.
I walked a gauntlet of Kerry fans after an All-Ireland game in Killarney with them all chanting "I'd rather be a Paki than a Dub" at me
Same-sex referendum: High turnout reported as polls close in Republic of Ireland please log in to view this image A nun casts her vote at a polling station in Dublin on Friday morning The polls have closed in the Republic of Ireland, where voters have been taking part in a referendum on whether to legalise same-sex marriage. More than 3.2m people were asked whether they wanted to amend the country's constitution to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. Polling stations closed at 22:00 BST and counting is due to start on Saturday morning. They reported an "unusually high" turnout on Friday. Irish state broadcaster RTÉ said the turnout in most areas was well ahead of what it had been in recent referendums. Dublin, Limerick and Waterford passed the 60% electorate turnout mark, while in Cork, Carlow, Kilkenny, Donegal, Tipperary, Kerry and Galway it was above 50%. Prior to Friday, votes had already been cast in some islands as well as hospitals, hospices and nursing homes. Irish citizens who are registered are allowed to vote, but there is no postal voting. Many people returned to Ireland to cast their votes. please log in to view this image Irish President Michael D Higgins was among those voting on Friday please log in to view this image Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny voted in Castlebar, County Mayo They were asked whether they agree with the statement: "Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex". The referendum was being held 22 years after homosexual acts were decriminalised in Ireland. In 2010, the Irish government enacted civil partnership legislation, which provided legal recognition for gay couples. please log in to view this image The result of the referendum is expected some time on Saturday But there are some important differences between civil partnership and marriage, the critical one being that marriage is protected in the constitution while civil partnership is not. Presidential candidates A constitutional convention established by the Irish government in 2013 considered the specifics of a proposal on extending marriage rights, as well as discussing other changes to the constitution. It voted in favour of holding a referendum on same-sex marriage and the date was announced by Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny earlier this year. A separate referendum, on whether the eligibility age of presidential candidates should be lowered from 35 to 21, is being held at the same time, along with a parliamentary by-election in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency. Same-sex marriage is currently legal in 19 countries worldwide. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32835572
I was thinking exactly the same thing - so they take an overnight break before launching into the vote counting?
"Polling stations closed at 22:00 BST and counting is due to start on Saturday morning." Counting of ballots began at 09:00 BST
Ireland same-sex referendum set to approve gay marriage please log in to view this image Early indications suggest that the measure will pass Early indications suggest the Republic of Ireland has voted to legalise same-sex marriage in a historic referendum. More than 3.2m people were asked whether they wanted to amend the country's constitution to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. Government ministers have said they believe it will pass, while prominent "no" campaigners have conceded defeat. Counting started at 09:00 BST on Saturday morning. An "unusually high" turnout has been reported. A result is expected by mid to late afternoon on Saturday. Conceded If the change is approved, the Republic of Ireland would become the first country to legalise same-sex marriage through a popular vote. Minister for Equality Aodhan O Riordain said on Twitter: "I'm calling it. Key boxes opened. It's a yes. And a landslide across Dublin. And I'm so proud to be Irish today." please log in to view this image Partners Adrian and Shane casting their vote in Drogheda, County Louth Minister for Health Leo Varadkar, who earlier this year came out as the Republic of Ireland's first openly gay minister, said the campaign had been "almost like a social revolution". Speaking from the Dublin count, he told Irish broadcaster RTE that it appeared about 75% of votes being counted there were in favour of legalising same-sex marriage. Some prominent "no" campaigners have already conceded defeat. David Quinn of the Iona Institute, a Catholic group, said it was "obviously a very impressive victory for the 'yes' side". "Obviously there's a certain amount of disappointment, but I'm philosophical about the outcome," he told RTE. "It was always going to be an uphill battle - there were far fewer organisations on the 'no' side, while all the major political parties were lined up on the 'yes' side and you had major corporations coming out for the first time to say how we should vote on a particular issue." please log in to view this image Counting of ballots began at 09:00 BST please log in to view this image An 'unusually high' turnout has been reported Dublin, Limerick and Waterford passed the 60% electorate turnout mark, while in Cork, Carlow, Kilkenny, Donegal, Tipperary, Kerry and Galway it was above 50%. The upper courtyard of Dublin Castle is open to 2,000 people for people to view the declarations on a large screen. Before Friday, votes had already been cast in some islands as well as hospitals, hospices and nursing homes. Irish citizens who are registered were allowed to vote, but there was no postal voting. Many people returned to Ireland to cast their votes. please log in to view this image Newly married couple Anne and Vincent Fox were determined to take part in the referendum and voted in Dublin please log in to view this image Irish President Michael D Higgins was among those who took the opportunity to vote please log in to view this image Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny voted in Castlebar, County Mayo They were asked whether they agreed with the statement: "Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex." The referendum was being held 22 years after homosexual acts were decriminalised in Ireland. In 2010, the Irish government enacted civil partnership legislation, which provided legal recognition for gay couples. please log in to view this image The result of the referendum is expected some time on Saturday But there are some important differences between civil partnership and marriage, the critical one being that marriage is protected in the constitution while civil partnership is not. Presidential candidates A constitutional convention established by the Irish government in 2013 considered the specifics of a proposal on extending marriage rights, as well as discussing other changes to the constitution. It voted in favour of holding a referendum on same-sex marriage and the date was announced by Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny earlier this year. If the measure is passed, Catholic churches will continue to decide for themselves whether to solemnise a marriage. The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Eamon Martin, has said the church may look at whether it continues to perform the civil side of solemnisation if the change comes in. A separate referendum, on whether the eligibility age of presidential candidates should be lowered from 35 to 21, was being held at the same time, along with a parliamentary by-election in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency. Same-sex marriage is currently legal in 19 countries worldwide. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32856232
Huge Ireland vote for gay marriage please log in to view this image Large crowds gathered in Dublin as the results of the referendum were announced The Republic of Ireland has voted overwhelmingly to legalise same-sex marriage in a historic referendum. More than 62% voted in favour of amending the country's constitution to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. It is the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage through a popular vote. The referendum was held 22 years after homosexual acts were decriminalised in the Republic of Ireland. Counting began at 09:00 BST on Saturday, and the final result was declared shortly before 19:00 BST. The turnout was more than 60%, and the outcome seemed clear a short time into the count, with prominent "no" campaigners declaring defeat early on. A large crowd gathered in Dublin Castle's upper courtyard to watch the declarations on a large screen. In total, 1,201,607 people voted in favour of same-sex marriage, while 734,300 voted against. Out of 43 constituencies, only the largely rural Roscommon-South Leitrim had a majority of "no" votes. Minister for Health Leo Varadkar, who earlier this year came out as the Republic of Ireland's first openly gay minister, said the vote showed that the "traditional cultural divide" between rural and urban areas had vanished. "This is really Ireland speaking with one voice in favour of equality," he told Irish broadcaster RTE. 'Social revolution' Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, said if the referendum was an affirmation of the views of young people, the church had a "huge task in front of it". "I think really the church needs to do a reality check," he told RTE. "I appreciate how gay and lesbian men and women feel on this day, that they feel this is something that is enriching the way they live. I think it is a social revolution." Voters were asked whether they agreed with the statement: "Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex." In 2010, the Irish government enacted civil partnership legislation, which provided legal recognition for gay couples. But there are some important differences between civil partnership and marriage, the critical one being that marriage is protected in the constitution while civil partnership is not. Catholic churches will continue to decide for themselves whether to solemnise a marriage. The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Eamon Martin, has said the church may look at whether it continues to perform the civil side of solemnisation if the change comes in. Same-sex marriage is now legal in 20 countries worldwide. Many people returned to the Republic of Ireland from abroad to cast their votes. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32858501
First Country in the World to legalise gay marriage through a popular vote according to your link Killy. 42 out of 43 constituencies voted yes. The odd one out - Hillbilly Central - was Roscommon/Sth Leitrim. I'd be slightly embarrassed right now if I lived there. Stan will be happy his vote won out
Steven Fry is happy, tweeting "Ireland’s Yes Campaign has carried the day. So so happy. Oscar smiles in his grave". But not all folk are too happy about the result. Abigail Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church said "Ireland has absolutely failed its duty to God. It has been wholly given over to the idea that it is okay to be a filthy ***" and that the Irish are " knuckle dragging potato-eating perverts". You can't please everyone I guess
