TV3 HAVE PICKED out a pretty appropriate venue for their coverage of count day in the same-sex marriage referendum.
Vincent Browne and Glenda Gilson will be teaming up for a two-hour count special from Dublin’s best known gay bar – The George.
Apart from the obvious symbolism – the location makes sense for other reasons too: the bar’s just around the corner from Dublin Castle, which will effectively be Count HQ on Saturday.
Votes will be counted in centres around Ireland – but the official result will be declared in St Patrick’s Hall of the Castle, by the National Returning Officer.
There’ll be no shortage of senior politicians dropping by next-door – and no doubt the TV3 team will be collaring them as soon as they’ve a free moment, and marching them down the laneway to Vincent’s pop-up studio.
Confirmed guests for the moment include Senator David Norris, former Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, Labour’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Fine Gael’s Jerry Buttimer and Katherine Zappone.
While, according to a TV3 press release:
Glenda will chat to some of Ireland’s famous faces including Brendan Courtney and Bosco.
Over on RTÉ One meanwhile, Brian Dobson will anchor the studio coverage – with two special broadcasts on Saturday. Miriam O’Callaghan will be looking after things from Dublin Castle.
There’ll also be extended news bulletins throughout the day on the national broadcaster – and the TV referendum coverage will continue almost until midnight, with a late update airing after the Eurovision.
RTÉ referendum specials: 10am – 12 midday, 2pm – 4.10pm
Vincent Browne Live from The George: 4pm – 6pm
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