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AS IT HAPPENED: Counting and final tallies indicate a strong Yes in Eighth Amendment referendum

Will the Eighth be repealed or retained? Find out live…

SO HERE WE are.

The nation was faced with the option of retaining or repealing the Eighth Amendment, and the Irish people have decided.

It’s looking a near certainty that the country has voted Yes to repealing the Eighth – with final tallies backing up the landslide predicted in two exit polls.

Here’s how the morning counting went.

Good morning, and welcome to TheJournal.ie‘s liveblog on referendum results day.

Seán Murray here, and I’ll be guiding you through proceedings this morning into the afternoon as the boxes are opened around the country and the votes are counted.

You can get in touch with me by emailing sean@thejournal.ie or tweeting me @SeanMJourno.

The polling stations shut at 10pm last night and, despite the vote counting only set to begin at 9am, we already have a strong indication of how it’s gone.

We had two exit polls last night – one from RTÉ and one from the Irish Times. Both suggested a landslide victory for the Yes side, with the RTÉ exit poll suggesting a Yes vote as high as 70%.

We have reporters on the scene in counting centres around the country so stick with us for all the updates as the day develops.

After the exit polls last night, many supporters on the Yes side began to tentatively hail a victory, including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.

On those exit polls, here’s just a little refresher:

The Irish Times poll put a Yes vote at 68%, with a margin of error of +/- 1%.

The RTÉ poll recorded a Yes vote of 69.4%, with a margin of error of +/- 1.6%.

But then again, they’re only exit polls so how much can we trust them?

For sure, we have nothing completely definitive yet but it does look fairly clear in favour of the Yes side at this stage.

VOTING 883_90545856 People voting in Castleknock yesterday Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

Reports of turnout were very high in some areas yesterday, eclipsing that of the marriage equality referendum. We’ll have more solid numbers later but it’s worth bearing in mind the turnout for previous referenda.

On the last day the country went to the polls in a referendum (we also had the referendum on lowering the president’s age that day) on 22 May 2015, the turnout was 60.5%.

That in itself was the biggest turnout for a referendum since the divorce referendum (62.2%) in 1995.  68% of the electorate, meanwhile, turned out in November 1992 to vote to allow women not be prosecuted for travelling abroad for an abortion.

From reports at polling stations across the country yesterday, turnout could well be in the 65%+ range.

There are more details of RTÉ’s exit poll being discussed on Morning Ireland at the moment.

It suggests that every part of the country supported repealing the Eighth Amendment.

The Yes vote was strong around the country, but particularly in Dublin with a Yes vote of 79%, according to the poll. In Leinster it was 67%. In Munster 66% and in Connacht and Ulster, the Yes vote was 62%.

RTÉ has also released a breakdown of how the supporters of particular parties voted in the election.

Roughly three-quarters or more of the voters who supported the main parties supported repeal with the exception of Fianna Fáil.

According to the exit poll, 49.7% of Fianna Fáil voters voted Yes.

philip boucher hayes Philip Boucher-Hayes / Twitter Philip Boucher-Hayes / Twitter / Twitter

More details from RTÉ exit poll, and this time it’s what swayed voters to vote the way that they did.

  • 43% of people said it was people’s personal stories that were told to the media
  • 34% cited the experience of someone that they know.
  • 10% said posters affected how they voted.
  • And 7% said it was through direct contact with campaigners.

Before we know the result beyond all doubt, there’s literally millions of votes to be counted, beginning at 9am.

Here’s the scene at Dublin’s RDS this morning, just before the boxes open.

(My colleague Aoife Barry will be reporting live from the RDS, and you can follow her updates here as the morning goes on)

referendum 492_90545907 Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

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So, the last time the country voted on the Eighth Amendment, 66.9% of the electorate voted in favour of recognising the equal right to life of the mother and unborn.

My colleague, Gráinne Ní Aodha, posted this reminder of how the vote went and the breakdown by constituency last time. Only 5 of the 41 constituencies at the time voted against the Eighth Amendment.

The exit polls suggest that the result could have completely swung in the opposite direction this time around.

Back to the RTÉ exit poll, and voters were also asked in what situations they believed that abortion should be available.

  • In cases of rape or incest – 73%.
  • Fatal foetal abnormality – 71%.
  • Cases between 12-24 weeks where there is a serious risk to woman’s life or health – 67%.
  • On request up to 12 weeks – 52%.

Orla O’Connor of the National Women’s Council said that, if the exit polls are correct, the result is “phenomenal”.

Speaking on RTÉ’S Morning Ireland, she said: “We want to thank every woman and man in every town, village and county who came out and voted yes. This is phenomenal. Assuming the polls are correct, this is a resounding roar from the Irish people about the horrors of the eighth.

“What became so clear was the importance of getting the public hearing the experiences of women and couples and hearing the reality of abortion in Ireland. It took enormous coverage for those women and men who spoke of fatal foetal abnormalities, of taking abortion pills and so on. I think today there will be a feeling of relief.”

Back to the 1983 vote now, and Dún Laoghaire was one of those five constituencies to vote against the introduction of the Eighth Amendment at the time.

Earlier this month, TheJournal.ie reporters Daragh Brophy and Nicky Ryan went to gauge the mood of locals there.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty has been speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

She’s emphasised the government’s desire to now try to introduce its planned legislation as soon as possible, if the results confirm the clear Yes majority from the exit polls.

She said: “As far as we’re concerned, the heads have been published and we want to get it to second stage as soon as possible. There will be politicians to try and change some aspects of it but we have a clear mandate from Irish people that they want to see change and compassion.”

If you want to know more about the 12-week provisions within the law, click here.

And they’re off.

Up and down the country, the ballot boxes are now being opened as the counting gets under way.

Kerry Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae, a No campaigner, has been on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

Here’s what he said: “As you know well I was advocating for a No vote. I did so because of very firmly-held beliefs. We live in a democracy I’m taken with the massive amount of people who voted Yes.

Now it’s over to the legislators. We will have to look exactly what the Minister will bring before the Dáil but the people have spoken and that’s it.

A striking aspect of this vote has been the sheer numbers of Irish people coming home from abroad to vote in this referendum.

Many a social media timeline was full of #HometoVote posts this week and my colleague Órla Ryan spoke to those on both sides who were making the journey from a variety of different locations around the world.

defining moment

Solidarity-PBP TD Bríd Smith is now on Morning Ireland.

She says: “I don’t what to say… this is a game changer in Ireland’s society. We will never go back to the dark days of women’s rights, of women’s bodily autonomy, and of women’s existence.

This will open the floodgates of demanding equality at every level for women… People are sick and tired of being told how to think and behave. Women and men in this country want a decent future for their kids.

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik then says it’s “an incredible day”.

“For many years, we have all become aware of the immense harm of the Eighth Amendment,” she says. Bacik cites the “tragic” cases as really resonating with the public.

Initial reports from those at polling stations are recording large amounts of Yes votes.

A bit more on that RTÉ exit poll, and there’s also a breakdown across a number of demographics.

The only age groups to vote No were over-65s, who voted 58% in favour of retaining the Eighth.

Just under 77% of middle class voters voted to repeal, 63.1% of working class people voted Yes while 52.5% of farmers also opted to lift the abortion ban.

We’re seeing early tallies from all over the country, with a strong Yes vote in all areas so far, from Meath and Wicklow to Cork and Dublin.

Here’s the scene at a count centre in Shannon.

Hopefully it’s not needed.

Emotional interviews with a number of young repeal campaigners at the RDS on Morning Ireland right now.

“People were really engaged… it crossed all genders, age groups and backgrounds. Everyone has had someone affected by this,” one says.

“It shows how far we’ve come as a country… Our generation and generations to come will change everything for the better and trust women. That’s the best thing to come from this,” another says.

Here’s Cora Sherlock from Love Both on Morning Ireland.

She calls it a “sad day for Ireland”.

“We need to remember what the Yes side have actually won,” she says.

She says that the country hasn’t been having the conversation of why women travel to England for abortions.

Sherlock says someone who’ve made that journey “regret” the decision to have an abortion.

“The consistent narrative that was put out there was that we needed abortion to keep women safe,” she says. She adds that “it’s not it” for the pro-life campaign.

We will regroup, we will reorganise, we will work hard to make sure mothers and babies are protected.

Sherlock is also asked why she didn’t appear on RTÉ debate. She says “a campaign decision” was made to remove her from the debate.

Here’s a strong Yes tally from Dublin, which is being seen around the country this morning.

There’s a statement in from Together for Yes, and its co-director Ailbhe Smyth has called it a “vote for dignity and decency”.

She says: “If exit polls are reflected in the official vote count later today, this will be a moment of profound change in Ireland’s social history, a moment when the nation collectively stood up for women and for their healthcare, and voted for constitutional change.

The people have heard us, the people have listened, the people own this Yes.

Undoubtedly, many found it difficult to come to a decision about a Yes or a No vote in the referendum.

This voter found it impossible to make a choice.

There’s a minor crisis at a Leitrim count centre at the minute, as they have managed to run out of chairs.

We’re not sure how serious it is, but it’s already being referred to as chairgate.

It’s all calm at Dublin Castle… for now.

But it’s likely to be packed later as that’s where the official result will be announced.

Our reporter Nicky Ryan is there, and you can follow developments there.

Image uploaded from iOS (7) Aoife Barry / TheJournal.ie Aoife Barry / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

More from Cora Sherlock at the RDS count centre.

She says that she’s “surprised” by the margin in the exit polls.

She says it should “worry us all” that “abortion on demand is here”. Sherlock adds that it’s a “devastating day” for the pro-life campaign.

There’s a statement in from Bpas, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service.

Its director of external affairs, Clare Murphy, says the likely result is a “momentous step forward that is long overdue”.

She says: “For decades, Irish women have been forced to travel hundreds of miles to our clinics in England, often alone, at a huge personal and emotional cost. The result, once confirmed, means that the Irish government can bring an end to this suffering, and legislate to provide the care women need at home.”

Reporters from across the globe descended on Roscommon this week ahead of the vote. Editor of the Roscommon People Paul Healy noted on Twitter that crews or reporters from Germany, Poland and Spain had been enjoying the sunshine and “checking out the perceived ‘conservative country’” in recent days.

The county has attracted more attention than most during the campaign due to its voting record on social issues.

The (now-defunct) constituency of Roscommon-Mayo recorded the largest majority in favour of the amendment back in ’83, at a whopping 83.8%

In 2015 it was the only area to vote against same-sex marriage.

Many in the town believe Roscommon’s reputation as the country’s most conservative county is a little unfair: other areas have very tight votes too, for instance, back in 2015 – and many younger people in the county moved to cities or overseas in the wake of the recession.

There’s been a surge in Roscommon voters hearing home to vote and detailing their journey on social media over the last few days.

You can watch our piece from the canvass trail in Roscommon and Mayo, recorded at the start of the month, below:

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

And on that Roscommon theme, initial reports from the county indicate a strong Yes vote.

Our reporter Daragh Brophy is at Trim GAA club in Meath West.

He says that Yes campaigners vastly outnumber the No campaigners present and, with 51 boxes open, it’s 69% in favour of Yes.

The boxes are a spread of urban and rural areas, taking in parts of Trim.

In Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s constituency in Dublin West, early tallies suggest a strong Yes vote.

The Green Party – which campaigned for a Yes vote – have a statement in.

Leader Eamon Ryan says: “Every Irish woman who in the past was shamed and forced to travel will hopefully also feel a sense of joy as well as relief today, knowing that their sister, their friend or their daughter will not have to face a similar journey.”

He adds that the campaign has highlighted the need to put in place more supports for all women and mothers in Irish society.

Dr Peter Boylan, chairman of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, has arrived at the RDS.

He’d been a key Yes campaigner in the past few weeks and months, and has said that today is a “wonderful day for Irish women”.

The exit polls suggested that all areas of the country would carry a Yes vote, but that may not be the case from early tallies in Donegal.

With 15,000 votes tallied, 53% of people have voted No.

Some tallies in from the Ring of Kerry, and it looks to be a clear Yes vote.

The Iona Institute’s David Quinn – a No advocate – is speaking to Marian Finucane on RTÉ Radio One.

He calls the results a “crunching win” for the Yes side.

He says: “I was thinking it would be maybe 56/44 for the Yes side.  We’re faced with a situation where the pro-life vote boils down to its core of about a third of voters. It is a complete reverse of 1983…

When the pro-choice side was beaten 2-1 back in 1983, it was a lonely place for them. It took them 35 years to get to this position.

TheJournal.ie’s political reporter Christina Finn is also at Dublin Castle today. You can follow her updates here.

She’s saying that people in repeal jumpers have already begun to show up in the courtyard.

David Quinn is still speaking to Marian Finucane. He reckons anyone who was conflicted about the vote decided to vote Yes in the end.

On the Iona Institute, Quinn said that it didn’t run a large ground campaign, adding that the organisation is more about making people available to talk on media.

Daragh Brophy reports from Meath West:

From as soon as boxes opened here at 9am Yes volunteers said they were hugely encouraged by what they saw.

The early tallies have borne that out – I’ve just been told that Moylagh, in probably the most rural part of the county, and regarded as a conservative area, is firmly in the Yes camp.

Some other data coming in from urban areas of Navan: Blackcastle is at 65% Yes and Johnstown is at 75%, according to one councillor here.

Of the total tally counted so far it’s 61% Yes.

The No side says it’s been close in a handful of areas:

And Save the 8th have just sent in a statement, conceding the vote to the Yes side.

Here’s what they say: “What Irish voters did yesterday is a tragedy of historic proportions. However, a wrong does not become right simply because a majority support it.

“If and when abortion clinics are opened in Ireland, because of the inability of the Government to keep their promise about a GP led service, we will oppose that as well. Every time an unborn child has his or her life ended in Ireland, we will oppose that, and make our voices known.”

save the 8th statement

Image uploaded from iOS (8) Peter Boylan at the RDS Aoife Barry / TheJournal.ie Aoife Barry / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

There was a media scrum when Dr Peter Boylan arrived at the RDS, Aoife Barry reports.

He said he was “unprepared but not surprised” by some of the vitriol directed towards him during the campaign.

He says it was worth it to get a win for the Yes side.

In and around Cork city is polling a very strong Yes, with 66% in favour of repealing the Eighth so far in Cork South Central and Cork North Central.

More from the RDS, now.

Dr Peter Boylan, chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the former Master of Holles Street, told reporters that he is “very happy” with the exit polls. He described Ireland today as a more modern, European country.

“It’s a happy day for women and that’s what this is all about,” he told TheJournal.ie’s Aoife Barry.

Boylan was a central figure in the Yes campaign, taking part in television and radio debates. Asked about how he was treated because of his decision to advocate for a Yes vote, he singled out the Claire Byrne Live programme on 14 May.

“I do [feel vindicated] but I have to say it’s not about doctors, this is about women. If you start playing the man, rather than the ball, you’re losing. If the abuse to me helped the campaign to say ‘Yes’, then that’s fine, I’ve no problem at all with that. I’ve experienced that sort of thing before. That happens – that’s the rough and tumble for this type of debate.

“I was unprepared for what happened on Claire Byrne, I’ve never experienced that amount of vitriol – it was quite astonishing. But as I say, if it helped the Yes campaign, great. You know, bring it on.”

Our reporter Daragh Brophy again, in Trim:

Latest word is that with 82 boxes counted here in Meath West – that’s half the constituency – it’s 61.5% in favour of Yes, with support for repeal across urban and rural areas.

Hearing reports that all the boxes have been counted in Dublin Central.

It has recorded a 76% Yes vote, which is a huge margin over the No side.

Our political reporter Christina Finn is at Dublin Castle, and has just tweeted this update.

Is it just me or does that basket of biscuits look a bit sorry for itself?

The idea of an urban-rural divide was mooted well in advance of the vote but that hasn’t been reflected in the tallies so far.

Here’s one update from Wexford, where all boxes from Gorey, Enniscorthy and New Ross districts showing a high Yes vote.

Simon Harris became a key figure in the Yes campaign and was hailed for his performance in the RTÉ Prime Time debate earlier this week.

He’s tweeted to say there’s been a high Yes vote in his Wicklow constituency.

Even political opponents have – grudgingly – praised his role in helping to secure a Yes vote.

luke ming Luke 'Ming' Flanagan Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

And again on that rural-urban theme.

Yes is polling on broadly similar lines in both the city and county of Waterford according to tallies so far.

Dr Rhona Mahony, the Master of the National Maternity Hospital, has speaking to Marian Finucane on RTÉ.

She says: “I think it’s quite extraordinary. This result is about the women who have endured so much.

I think for them today it must be extraordinary to see the whole country get behind them. It’s a hugely emotional day. It’s about real life and it’s about understanding.

“It has been a very informed conversation right from the get go. I think Ireland has to be congratulated for the way it went about the referendum. More importantly the country has listened to women.. and the women have spoken.”

There’s been reports of final tallies in Cork South Central and Cork North Central.

A clear majority voted overwhelmingly to repeal in both.

If you’re planning on going to Dublin Castle today, our reporter Nicky Ryan has the following advice:

We keep hearing it may be the tightest in Donegal, where counting is well under way there.

It’s less so in Louth and Carlow/Kilkenny, with a strong Yes vote coming in.

Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone is speaking on RTÉ.

She says: “I think there was a lot of doubt as to if this would be an effective process (referring to the Citizens’ Assembly and subsequent Oireachtas Committee which considered the matter).”

She says it wouldn’t have been easy politically for Taoisigh Enda Kenny and Leo Varadkar to take the action they did.

Noone praises Micheál Martin and Mary Lou McDonald for coming out on the Yes side and supporting the government’s proposals.

She adds that “some parties” may be out of touch with how people feel on the ground.

Pro-life activist Katie Ascough on RTÉ now.

“This referendum has brought so many people together who care about mothers,” she says. She says “there’s a lot of good to come” in future from grassroots pro-life movements.

“We want to hold the Taoiseach to his word that abortions will be rare,” Ascough says.

We’re getting more statements in, mainly from those who advocated a Yes vote.

Here’s what Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger has had to say: “This is a victory delivered primarily by young people, the generation often disparaged as ‘snowflakes’.

They were the ones who said enough was enough and made this an issue, particularly after the tragic and unnecessary death of Savita Halappanavar. It was young women who refused to go along with the hypocrisy of the ‘Irish solution to an Irish problem’ and demanded and organised to force this change on a petrified and reluctant political establishment.

Speaking about the split in his party in relation to the referendum, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin told Marian Finucane on RTÉ Radio One that his majority of his TDs were okay with the position he took.

An interesting aspect of the RTÉ exit poll was that a small majority of Fianna Fáil voters voted No in the referendum.

“I think to be fair the vast majority were fine to be honest… There’s a continuum on this issue,” he said.

Martin said that it was always his belief that the result of the referendum would settle the matter definitely.

He felt “the result would give a clear and definitive pointer of what the people wanted,” he said.

“It was a matter of continuing to lead from the front.”

Martin said that the overwhelming strength of the Yes vote was something he could take comfort from.

“The world is changing and certainly there’s a force coming to have a very significant impact particularly in referendums,” he said.

Our political reporter Christina Finn was live at Dublin Castle with this update.

We’re hearing a final tally from Carlow/Kilkenny and it’s 63% Yes.

It’s a majority Yes in most part of the country as it stands right now, with a question mark still over Donegal.

Aoife Barry, at the RDS, has been talking to Eoin Shanahan, a no campaigner in Dublin Bay North. He talked, much like David Quinn did earlier, about how the pro-life campaign must have a long-term plan now.

“All they can do is to keep putting the message out there… keep putting pressure on TDs… to bring in laws to reflect their views, that’s what democracy is about. That’s what I’ll be doing. I did say to my son a few weeks ago, this won’t be over on the 25 or 26 May. This will continue regardless of the result. I do believe that if the result had gone the other day, we would have had another referendum. That’s what happened in relation to some other issues,” he said.

“There will always be a pro-life campaign and I’ll always be a member of it.”

“I think they are going to have to reflect very deeply on where they go from here. I think they will have to organise politically. I mean, one in three or one in four voters is serious political clout. If that was organised in a clever way, the movement could have a lot more political clout.”

Asked how he is feeling today following the exit polls, he said: “It’s a little like when your team has lost – but you’re still very proud to be part of the team but you’re disappointed they’ve lost. I was not terribly surprised [by the exit polls]… but if you had asked me yesterday, I would have thought it would be closer.”

Interesting line from No activist and Fianna Fáil TD Mary Butler there on RTÉ.

With the government proposing to introduce legislation on abortion in the event of a Yes vote, there is the prospect of opponents attempting to block the laws passing.

However, Butler has said she will not halt legislation, or do any filibustering “or anything like that”.

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald has told reporters at the RDS that there is no room for any more filibustering from opponents to the legislation.

She wants it passed through the Dáil as quickly as possible. Simon Harris and Micheál Martin have made similar statements this morning.

This referendum hasn’t just captured the attention of the Irish people.

The world’s media has also descended on Ireland for this historic vote, which is reflected by the scrum of cameras and journalists at the RDS today.

Some huge Yes votes coming from Dublin constituencies in particular, but one box in Limerick had over 90% of votes in favour of repealing the Eighth.

Tallies still coming in around the country as we approach the afternoon. We should have the first official results coming in fairly soon.

This one comes from the polling station of Mattie McGrath – a notable No campaigner.

Image uploaded from iOS (9) Aoife Barry / TheJournal.ie Aoife Barry / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

Simon Harris has arrived at the RDS.

“They want to live in a country that treats women with compassion,” the Minister for Health says. “This is an Ireland that no longer says take the boat, take the plane… today we say we want to stand with you.”

Tánaiste Simon Coveney tells RTÉ that the referendum result won’t be a case of “Dublin versus the rest”, and that is reflected by the Yes vote throughout the country with little urban-rural divide.

“It’s a huge step forward for Ireland,” he says.

Even in the constituencies of prominent No campaigners – as we’ve already noted with Mattie McGrath -  the vote was still for repeal.

Our reporter Nicky Ryan has just sent us these photos from a sunny Dublin Castle. As he’s already emphasised, there won’t be a big screen and stage announcing the results like the 2015 marriage equality referendum.

IMG_2294 Nicky Ryan / TheJournal.ie Nicky Ryan / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

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Here’s more of what Simon Coveney had to say earlier.

Speaking to RTÉ, the Tánaiste said the campaign was a “very emotional time for a lot of people who essentially have been hiding their stories for now”. He said these people can now look forward to a different type of Ireland for their own children.

Though he said there is not exactly an atmosphere of celebration today, there is “relief and satisfaction that Ireland is moving forward”.

Coveney also spoke about his own personal struggle with the issue, and said he will be a voice for pro-life people who have concerns about the next steps now. He said he does not believe the number of women who have terminations in Ireland will increase significantly – “by voting yes, it was not voting against unborn children”.

The Tánaiste also sought to reassure No voters that the legislation the government is hoping to enact “is going to be balanced”, describing it was “one of the most conservative pieces of legislation in this area”.

Speaking to Marian Finucane, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said: “I think lots of us were probably guilty of poll watching.. And there was a certain sense of not taking anything for granted.”

McDonald said that particular credit was due to the women and their families who “came forward and told their stories”.

McDonald was questioned in relation to her party TDs Carol Nolan and and Peadar Tóibín – both of whom campaigned for a No vote, going against the official party line.

McDonald said that party members were entitled to have their own personal opinions on matters, but that when it came to voting on legislation, it was important that party views were represented.

“I hope that Peadar and Carol will accept the verdict of the people today and I will have no reason to believe they won’t,” she said.

Minister for Children Katherine Zappone is at the RDS too, and she told our reporter Aoife Barry: “I was actually thinking of course of the women who were so brave to come forward to tell their stories to change the hearts and minds of, not only the citizens of Ireland but a lot of the politicians as well.

“And we are now moving forward more and more into a time and a period where the shaming of women has to be left behind…”

Another strong Yes vote coming in from Munster, and this time from Dingle in west Kerry.

And now we have a statement in from the Social Democrats.

Co-leader Catherine Murphy has said that the expected result shows the “innate decency of the Irish people”.

She said: “It is remarkable to see the depth of understanding and compassion of Irish voters of all ages and backgrounds towards those among us who face difficult situations and decisions during pregnancies.”

Soc Dem co-leader Róisín Shortall echoed these sentiments and said that a new Ireland is “clearly taking shape”.

Our reporter Christina Finn is at Dublin Castle and she’s been speaking to Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger.

On the issue of the slim majority of Fianna Fáil voters backing retain, Coppinger said that party seems to be living in a “different timezone”.

She said: “I think the fact that one of the biggest parties in the State has shown itself to be so removed from the population, with over half of its TDs coming out for a No vote and actually getting involved in a quite reactionary campaign – I think they have serious questions to answer.

“The Dail in my opinion is a bastion of conservatism in comparison to the population, but Micheál Martin has a particular problem.”

There are four out of five of the Dublin constituencies fully tallied. All of them have voted upwards of 70%.

Still no official results yet, but we shouldn’t be waiting too much longer.

And here’s some tallies from Mayo, where a slimmer majority has backed repeal.

Simon Harris is certainly a popular man today in the RDS, arriving to big cheers and stopping to take pictures.

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In a statement, Amnesty International has said that the people of Ireland have sent a “powerful message to women and girls that their human rights and reproductive health matter”.

Its director in Ireland, Colm O’Gorman, said: “This is such an important vote for women’s dignity and bodily autonomy. It shows what sort of country Ireland really is – one where people care. At last, Ireland is free to create a legal and medical framework for abortion access that respects their human rights.”

We’re hearing the final tally from Limerick city, which has it at two-thirds in favour of repeal. There’s also a strong Yes in the county.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is speaking on RTÉ One now.

He says: “What we’ve seen today is the culmination of a quiet revolution that has taken place in Ireland over the past 10-20 years.

We trust women, and we respect them to make the right decisions for their healthcare… this gives the government the mandate.

“Most of all it was the very many brave women and men who told their stories as to how the Eighth Amendment had impacted on them,” he says when asked about what influenced voters.

They allowed us a nation to understand how this hard law created so many hard cases.

Varadkar adds that he’d have the legislation through “quicker if he could”, and says it will take another six months for the legislation to be enacted.

“My intention is to bring in legislation exactly on the lines of what is in the general scheme,” he says.

We have info on what’s in that general scheme of the legislation here.

And here’s Ruth Coppinger TD speaking to TheJournal.ie outside Dublin Castle, where small crowds are starting to gather.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

Senator Ronan Mullen is on RTÉ News. He has thanked the people who voted to retain the Eighth Amendment, adding that “we have lost something beautiful”.

He said that people in politics should show “leadership” on the issue.

Seán has left to take a well-deserved break so it’s Sinéad O’Carroll here for the next little while.

Just some housekeeping, if you’re wondering where to find results, we’ll have them all for you here as they come in.

PastedImage-56578

Some more political reaction in from reporter Christina Finn in Dublin Castle:

Independent Alliance members Shane Ross, Finian McGrath and John Halligan have welcomed the early tallies indicating an overwhelming Yes vote in the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment.

The three members campaigned for a Yes vote and the Independent Alliance played a major role in getting the commitment to hold the referendum into the Programme for Government.

The three members now believe it is important to get the legislation through without delay.

There have been reports in two count centres of minor incidents between Yes and No supporters.

We’re checking this out and will report back.

A significant focus of the debate ahead of yesterday’s vote was on whether abortion laws would impact certain communities.

Down Syndrome Ireland had asked campaigners not to talk about people living with Down Syndrome in relation to the Eighth Amendment or abortion.

Other advocates, such as Suzy Byrne, asked for the same.

Today, she says:

Last night, Darach Ó Séaghdha (who wrote in TheJournal.ie that it “breaks my heart that my daughter might think she only exists because terminations were forbidden”), called for politicians who campaigned for No vote to advocate for people like his daughter.

The men and women of the Terminations for Medical Reasons group who have spoken about their experiences of having to travel abroad after receiving a diagnosis of a fatal foetal abnormality are due to speak in the RDS shortly.

Meanwhile, many are thanking Health Minister Simon Harris for the work he has done to get this referendum passed.

PastedImage-79330 Gráinne Ní Aodha Gráinne Ní Aodha

 

A mural to remember Savita Halappanavar was installed on Richmond Street in Portobello, Dublin 8 in recent days.

People have gathered at the spot, leaving flowers and notes and Yes stickers.

Reporter Gráinne Ní Aodha visited the site earlier today and she will have a report back shortly.

We have our first result.

GALWAY EAST – YES

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As we’re going to be getting results in from now, we’re going to close off this liveblog and open a new one so you can follow all the results as they come in here.

See you there.

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    Mute Sean Murnin
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    May 26th 2018, 8:37 AM

    Thank you England and the NHS for your care and compassion towards Irish women. We’ll take it from here.

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    Mute Free comment ratings
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    May 26th 2018, 8:39 AM

    @Sean Murnin: ah not quite to be fair, do you not think people are making the journey today? Very disappointing.

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    Mute Sean Murnin
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    May 26th 2018, 8:47 AM

    @Free comment ratings: Unfortunately women will still have to make the journey today. My heart breaks for them and the women who suffered unnecessarily because of the 8th. At least my daughter will have a choice when she grows up.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:20 AM

    @Sean Murnin: yes the NHS which terminates 190,000 lives a year and through 15,500 into hospital furnaces until they were caught. It’s a model system.

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    Mute Sean Murnin
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    May 26th 2018, 9:51 AM

    @El Diego: Better than throwing them in septic tanks!

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    Mute Darren Norris
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    May 26th 2018, 9:53 AM

    @El Diego: can you reference that please? Or is it our religion fuelled anger not being able to still control women that has you saying this

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    Mute Free comment ratings
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    May 26th 2018, 10:01 AM
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    Mute helen walsh
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    May 26th 2018, 10:13 AM

    @Sean Murnin: eventually..until new legislation comes in women will still be travelling to the UK

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    Mute Sean Murnin
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    May 26th 2018, 10:18 AM

    @helen walsh: I know. See my second comment.

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 10:21 AM

    @El Diego: ah give it up the people have spoken. Your scare tactics don’t work and didn’t work get over it

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    Mute Sean Murnin
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    May 26th 2018, 10:44 AM

    @El Diego: Stick your head in the sand and pretend it’s not happening. That tactic seems to have worked well for the no side over the last 35 years.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:19 PM

    @Sean Murnin: is it?

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:21 PM

    @Darren Norris: Darren, Darren, are you still there? Look, stick your head in the sand and pretend that baby parts were not used to heat 27 NHS hospitals in the UK. Did you say religious? What’s that got to do with it? RTE exit poll, 74% declared themselves as RCC. Nice try though.

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    Mute Shy Tall Knight
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    May 26th 2018, 12:39 PM

    @Free comment ratings: It’s a 20 minute flight for 20 quid.They’re not exactly hiking the pyrenees.

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    Mute Sharon Canning
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    May 26th 2018, 12:39 PM

    @Sean Murnin: brilliant… just brilliant

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    Mute Sharon Canning
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    May 26th 2018, 12:39 PM

    @Sean Murnin: brilliant… just brilliant

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    Mute Free comment ratings
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    May 26th 2018, 12:48 PM

    @Shy Tall Knight: I know. But he said we’ll take it from here..hardly when people are making that journey today. We will take it over at some point but at the moment.

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    Mute Sean Murnin
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    May 26th 2018, 1:02 PM

    @Free comment ratings: pedantic
    pɪˈdantɪk/Submit
    adjective
    excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overscrupulous.

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    Mute Toon Army
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    May 26th 2018, 8:09 AM

    Little by little the Church is loosing control over the state. Next up getting rid of their influence on education. Again Iona and their ilk will protest, again the people will have their say.

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    Mute Leitrim303
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    May 26th 2018, 8:13 AM

    @Toon Army: totally agree no need for religion in schools

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    Mute Cassie Lyons
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    May 26th 2018, 8:14 AM

    @Toon Army: *Losing-don’t be in such a hurry to get rid of any influence on education just yet.

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    Mute Shane McGettrick
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    May 26th 2018, 8:36 AM

    @Cassie Lyons: Religion and education are like water and oil, they just don’t mix.

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    Mute Karen Wellington
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    May 26th 2018, 8:52 AM

    @Cassie Lyons: religion is the denial of fact so that faith can be preserved, it has no place in the classroom.

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    Mute Molehead
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    May 26th 2018, 9:25 AM

    @Toon Army: whoever is counting that tally in Carlow is marking in blocks of 6 instead of 5. That will have to be redone

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 9:31 AM

    @Toon Army: Iona need a new cause now u r spot on it will be keep religion in schools

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 9:32 AM

    @Cassie Lyons: a lot of us are superstitious scary fairy tales have no place in education

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:37 AM

    @Toon Army: this was an abortion debate. It!’s said that the angry atheists have seen this as a church issue. Go down and throw rocks at the pensioners hobbling into mass to satisfy your bigotry and let the adults debate the rights and wrongs of our new abortion regime.

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    Mute Markonline
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    May 26th 2018, 9:39 AM

    @Toon Army: Didn’t you even understand the question you were asked to vote on?……Little by little the public is losing control over the state.

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    Mute Shane McGettrick
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    May 26th 2018, 9:42 AM

    @Markonline: I wasn’t aware a royal decree was issued yesterday? Oh wait, McQuaid died years ago!

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    Mute Markonline
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    May 26th 2018, 9:44 AM

    @Toon Army: By adults you mean let the politicians, right? although clearly, they should end up with similar to what was proposed at this stage/ but not necessarily the exact same.

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    Mute Markonline
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    May 26th 2018, 9:49 AM

    @Shane McGettrick: You and many others by the looks of it.

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    Mute Toon Army
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    May 26th 2018, 9:49 AM

    @El Diego: You’re on the wrong side of history Diego but there’s still plenty of room, come join us!

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    Mute Pádraig Gaffney
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    May 26th 2018, 10:03 AM

    @Toon Army: Teacher here. Wholeheartedly agree. The sooner the better.

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    Mute David Dickson
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    May 26th 2018, 10:28 AM

    @Toon Army: euthanasia is the next one.

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    Mute Nick Drake
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    May 26th 2018, 11:15 AM

    @Toon Army: The turn out was very strong overall showing real engagement in the process. However, I have seen so many comments and heard so many people refer to the church regarding this vote. If people really have used this as a vote against the church then it really is a sad day, not for women, but for everyone.

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    Mute Toon Army
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    May 26th 2018, 11:33 AM

    @Nick Drake: According to the exit polls the main reason people voted yes was based on the shocking personal stories of the lives of women who were affected by this draconian amendment. An amendment that yes, had the full backing of the Church. It’s a sad day when, even after the people have clearly spoken, the no side will continue to deflect, speculate and ignore the facts.

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    Mute John McQuaid
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    May 26th 2018, 11:57 AM

    @Johnny Leddin: I’ll be seeing you in the confessional tomorrow Johnny boy!

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:23 PM

    @Toon Army: 74% who voted declared themselves as RCC. How does that stand with your religious bigotry?

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    Mute Stephen Adam
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    May 26th 2018, 12:26 PM

    @El Diego: I think we’ve seen the reality behind hose figured today.

    Hopefully we’ll see the end of the RCCs influence in schools next and then, truly, finally they’re finished as a political force here.

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    Mute Darren moore
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    May 26th 2018, 8:18 AM

    This was a woman’s health and rights issue. Polling stations were full of mothers and daughters going together to vote and it was great to see the men in this country out to support thier wives , daughters , sisters and mother’s whom have been denied the right to medical care .

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    Mute Markonline
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    May 26th 2018, 10:06 AM

    @Darren moore: Indeed, that’s what it was advertised as, but not what you voted for.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 10:44 AM

    @Markonline I’m sure Darren knows wfat he voted for. You on the other hand are probably a little clueless about what you voted against.

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    Mute Darren moore
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    May 26th 2018, 11:09 AM

    @Markonline: incorrect . One side tried to advertise this as an abortion ref . Anyway I respect everyone’s beliefs and it appears the majority have the belief woman in this country are more than capable of choosing their own healthcare decisions . I also respect those that put there opinion out in public but not so sure about anonymous people online spouting all sorts ……

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    Mute monika
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    May 26th 2018, 12:02 PM

    @Markonline: indeed. But they are as blind as the blind can be.

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    Mute Markonline
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    May 26th 2018, 1:12 PM

    @Dell: It was a very simple question that was put to the public, yet you still can’t quite grasp it. Why couldn’t we enshrine the right to have an abortion into the constitution?….no no that would have been too complex for you to vote for so now you don’t have to bother your little head about it and let others decide for you instead….maybe it is for the best after all if this is the level of foresight in this country.

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    Mute Markonline
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    May 26th 2018, 1:26 PM

    @Darren moore: But that is not what was achieved….I agree that each situation is unique and can only be decided fairly by the individuals involved, but that is not what happened is it? Instead, the country has voted to let the government of the day decide the “law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy”….Hitler couldn’t have worded it better.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:14 PM

    @mark online talking to people the way you are now doing in a condescending, self righteous manner and not truly listening is exactly why you and others made this a landslide victory.

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    Mute Jimmy jones
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    May 26th 2018, 8:09 AM

    This is a big blow for “the gammon heads” stuck in the 1950s Ireland. The more the Healy Rae , Mattie , Ronan Mullen etc appeared on TV the more they convinced the population to vote yes.

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    Mute Fergus Sheahan
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    May 26th 2018, 8:19 AM

    @Jimmy jones: can you not just win with style and grace and not polarize the other side?

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    Mute Tweed Cap
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    May 26th 2018, 8:21 AM

    @Fergus Sheahan:
    He’s right.
    I don’t think such a marginal Yes vote would have been possible without the condescending behavior, question dodging and offensive replies from the likes of Maria Steen, Peadar Toibin, Mattie Mc Grath and Ronan Mullen. Intellectual suicide on national television.

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 8:24 AM

    @Jimmy jones: the no side has been lying through their teeth again and again so where was their style and grace then? Don’t get me wrong, no need to open champagne bottles if the yes wins but some of the stuff the no side has said… they don’t have my respect – will respect them in the result of the referendum but note they don’t deserve much of this respect imo

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    Mute Fergus Sheahan
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    May 26th 2018, 8:42 AM

    @Toki Wartooth: just cause you believe they behaved badly doesn’t give licence for you to do so, we all live in the same country and have to get along…rise above it, there are bad winners as well as bad losers

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    Mute Jimmy jones
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    May 26th 2018, 8:54 AM

    @Fergus Sheehan : I didn’t win anything .

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    Mute Fergus Sheahan
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    May 26th 2018, 9:04 AM

    @Jimmy jones: and you never will!

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:15 AM

    @Tweed Cap: you clearly didn’t watch the CB debate. Steen and Dr Monaghan were clearly the most well informed and capable debaters of the campaign, across the TV debates anyway.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:17 AM

    @Toki Wartooth: horrendous. Seeking to marginalise a huge swathe of the population. God help the next generation if the mini socialists get into power.

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 9:33 AM

    @Jimmy jones: they just couldn’t see the damage they done to there own cause

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 9:33 AM

    @Jimmy jones: they lied, lied and lied…you think misguiding electorate is OK? Fair enough then…. and note also I don’t plan to celebrate anything, I have more respect than the one displayed by some of the no voters

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    Mute thatsnotme
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    May 26th 2018, 9:39 AM

    @El Diego: and you clearly still have your head up your ass

    26
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    Mute John Judd
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    May 26th 2018, 9:40 AM

    @Jimmy jones: you don’t have to insult people on the no side, their views are just as valid .

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    Mute Tweed Cap
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    May 26th 2018, 9:42 AM

    @El Diego:
    Two out of every three people in Ireland disagree with you. So do I.

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 9:44 AM

    @Jimmy jones: hahaha! The socialists are coming, beware! Relax Armando, all will be just fine

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    Mute SilentFugitive
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    May 26th 2018, 9:46 AM

    @Fergus Sheahan: well said Fergus, humble in victory is a noble thing and people should look now to move forward together and not further wedge a divide with some caustic jibes like gammon.

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    Mute Celtic_Horizon
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    May 26th 2018, 10:02 AM

    @El Diego: I remember watching that debate the no campaigners did “win” it, but lets be clear they didn’t win because they had the better argument. They won it with brute force. The no campaigners in the audience on the night acted disgracefully and all steen did was shout.
    Monaghan showed about as much empathy towards crisis pregnancies as snake does for a mouse.
    But saying that the referendum is over (nearly). It might be good idea for some people that are bitter with the result (I’m hoping a minority of no campaigners) should probably stay away from social media for few days and try not saying inflammatory comments if unable to do so, does no one any favors except make yourself look like a fool

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 10:22 AM

    @Fergus Sheahan: nope they need to be held accountable for there lies intolerance and poisonous hatred

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 26th 2018, 10:45 AM

    @Celtic_Horizon: it’s great that yes won but nobody can deny that some people on both sides acted horribly. Hopefully people accept winning gracefully , not that there are any winners really, without having to go and tear down the other side. We won, time for the fighting to end.

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 10:59 AM

    @El Diego: steen ha ha came across like Katie Hopkins she was a disaster

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    Mute Fergus Sheahan
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    May 26th 2018, 11:03 AM

    @Mickey Fennessy: it was passed democratically now lets look forward, in what way would a witch hunt be in anyway beneficial other that to serve your selfrigheousness?, that poisonous hatred when both ways

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:24 PM

    @thatsnotme: that makes two of us so.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:28 PM

    @Celtic_Horizon: you used the word “win” not me. I certainly am not bitter. I’m not a religious bigot and I am in favour of abortion for hard cases just not on demand. My conscience is clear. It’s the sad Yes triumphalists and angry atheists (equivalent of bible bashers) who need to stay off social media.

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    Mute Shy Tall Knight
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    May 26th 2018, 5:32 PM

    @Jimmy jones: I’d respect them more than the cowardly politicians who changed their mind once the tide changed.

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    Mute Keith Synnott
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    May 26th 2018, 8:12 AM

    Ireland has shown it’s not being dictated to by the Catholic Church any longer after the marriage equality vote and now what looks like a resounding yes (judging by the exit polls).
    I’m savouring my coffee this morning with no bitter aftertaste.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:19 AM

    @Keith Synnott: good man. Put a bit if sugar in it for the lost lives over the next few years. You do realise that this was a vote on abortion and not the Pope’s popularity. The angry atheists seem confused this morning.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:32 AM

    @el Diego You are the only one who seems angry and I came across a few of you over the past few weeks and none were atheists.

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    Mute Daniel O'Hara
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    May 26th 2018, 9:35 AM

    @El Diego: incorrect. Where does it state abortion on the 8th amendment? I’m quite aware it will mean a new law will be put on front of the dail to be passed on abortion but at the moment, the 8th is about the rights of the unborn.

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    Mute Suzanne Bell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:52 AM

    @El Diego: cop yourself on, no-one is demanding anybody have an abortion but it’s about bloody time that the choice for women is there, if they need one they can have one in their own country, if they don’t want one, don’t have one, no-one is being forced, it’s called CHOICE !!!!!!!!

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    Mute Seth Cheffetz
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    May 26th 2018, 10:24 AM

    @El Diego: this might come as a shock to you but Irish women were having abortions before the vote…

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    Mute Keith Synnott
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    May 26th 2018, 10:53 AM

    @El Diego: I’m neither an atheist or angry but you keep labelling and pigeon holing people sure, it’ll do wonders for you . I’m actually very happy today and anyone that respects a woman’s right to determine her own future will be too.

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    Mute monika
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    May 26th 2018, 12:00 PM

    @Keith Synnott: wow! Enjoying your coffee celebrating the mass murder of thousands of babies. Awesome.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:30 PM

    @Daniel O’Hara: did you not read the proposed legislation? You should have read it before you voted to remove the protection of right to life to our unborn.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 12:32 PM

    @monika it was this kind of hyperbolic claptrap that made so many yes voters not engage with the love boats. You may have had some chance of changing people’s minds if you were a little less inclined to be so judgmental and plain old nasty to deal with.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:33 PM

    @Keith Synnott: unfortunately for you Keith you sought to make a religious point out of what was a moral debate. Just so you know, 74% of those who voted yesterday declared themselves as RC yesterday. You should thank the members of the RC Church because they delivered the Yes result.

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    Mute Keith Synnott
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    May 26th 2018, 1:13 PM

    @El Diego: The church have been preaching how good Catholics must vote no from the pulpit leading up to this so my point is very valid and not unfortunate.

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    Mute Keith Synnott
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    May 26th 2018, 1:33 PM

    @El Diego: 74% being RC just proves my
    point that they ignored the churches opinion. Thanks for that.

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    Mute DJ François
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    May 26th 2018, 8:30 AM

    May I also add that I’m delighted Ireland resisted the onslaught of foreign interference in our democratic process.

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    Mute shellakybooky
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    May 26th 2018, 8:04 AM

    Ohhh yes!

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    Mute FPL Thommo
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    May 26th 2018, 8:11 AM

    @shellakybooky: zzzzzz

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    Mute iohanx
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    May 26th 2018, 8:11 AM

    @shellakybooky: what legislation replaces it?

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    Mute shellakybooky
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    May 26th 2018, 8:16 AM

    @FPL Thommo: says the fantasy football lover.zzzzzzzzzzzz

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    Mute DJ François
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    May 26th 2018, 8:25 AM

    Mullen, Iona, Steen and the rest have been consigned to the wrong side of history.
    The vote is a massive mandate for change, the fence sitters in the Dail need to realise that a sea change has occurred.

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    Mute Squiddley Diddley
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    May 26th 2018, 10:01 AM

    @DJ François: It makes me wonder how Ronán Mullen keeps getting elected to the Seanad. How transparent is that process? Is the counting done in public?

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    Mute Jack McGready
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    May 26th 2018, 11:32 AM

    @DJ François:
    The same way Ivana Batchick gets into Seanad Eireann.

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    Mute Squiddley Diddley
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    May 26th 2018, 11:42 AM

    @Jack McGready: But it would seem her views are in tune with the majority, so graduates electing her makes absolute sense. Graduates electing Mullen seems to make no sense.

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    May 26th 2018, 8:35 AM

    The women of Ireland wake to a new dawn. There’s more that needs to be done. I hope this victory gives them the strength, courage and determination to continue the fight for the issues women feel are necessary to improve their lives.

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    May 26th 2018, 12:47 PM

    @Dave Doyle: contraceptives of all kinds should be readily available for all.

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    Mute Julian Dowling
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    May 26th 2018, 1:37 PM

    @Dave Doyle: Couples you mean. Hopefully consent will need to be given by the Father to murder the unborn.

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 8:23 AM

    Without a doubt a yes vote… I feel it appropriate to divulge I voted no as I comment to be open and honest.

    Lets truly hope the resultant legislation does indeed address the true crisis situations as passionately presented correctly by the yes side and stops short of abortion on demand as feared by the no side and which is also not what was advocated by the yes side as presented.

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 8:54 AM

    @Ken Maycock: look at all the other European countries…life goes on, kids are born and loved…you live in a better country today, I really hope you see it like this during the coming months.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:24 AM

    @Ken Maycock: it is abortion on demand Ken. That’s what was voted for yesterday. Other countries are trying to restrict their abortion laws we’re introducing liberal abortion on demand allegedly for the “hard cases”. Not the solution.

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 9:31 AM

    @Toki Wartooth: if it abortion is only used for those true crisis situations, as I rightly believe it should be then I agree 100%

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 9:34 AM

    @El Diego: We can but hope the legislation that is ultimately ratified and passed through the dail in coming months stops short of abortion on demand as feared by NO side, myself included, and denied by the YES side. Either way, the sooner the terms YES side and NO side vanish the better…. compassion was unfortunately lost in some aspects of this debate. Compassion needs to be brought back amd put inwaveringly at the forefront of every discussion about this topic.

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    Mute Martin Flood
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    May 26th 2018, 9:36 AM

    @Ken Maycock: Once on-demand abortion is in, it will take another generation to restrict it to hard cases only. Damn this stupid government for making the choice a simple yes or no.

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 9:46 AM

    @Ken Maycock: stop lying mate…enough is enough…

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 9:49 AM

    @Martin Flood: i hope you’re wrong but I share your fear. If the draft legislation presented as the alternative was narrower and focused on the true crisis situations then the referendum would have passed with a near as makes no difference 100% agreement.

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 9:58 AM

    @Toki Wartooth: Trolls up early today. What I have is said is 100% the truth of what I feel and believe. Lets keep this discussion respectful and compassionate, lets remember whats going to happen as a result. Happy to engage in discussion….. consider anything else ignored

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    Mute Paddy
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    May 26th 2018, 10:46 AM

    @El Diego: grrr

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    Mute Seth Cheffetz
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    May 26th 2018, 11:11 AM

    @Ken Maycock: it’s as if the no side thinks without a restriction in place the country will descend to into chaos and every women will thoughtlessly have a abortions for fun.

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 12:28 PM

    @Seth Cheffetz: They’re you’re words not mine. You can be sure, with abortion on demand, there will be abortions for reasons that would go against our own moral beliefs regardless of where you ait in this discussion. I absolutely appreciate that decision is likely the most difficult that’ll be taken in that ladies life and I 100% empathise and wouldnt wish anyone to be in that situation.

    I agree with choice in crisis situations as very well presented by the YES position, incest/rape/fatal abnormaility etc. I dont agree with choice carte blanche… and Im sure thats where we disagree.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:36 PM

    @Ken Maycock: well said and I agree. Unfortunately the government have likely missed their chance to legislate for those hard cases. I hope that the majority in the Dail push on that Head 7 but given that FG worded that through Noone I don’t see that happening.

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    Mute Seth Cheffetz
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    May 26th 2018, 1:16 PM

    @Ken Maycock: still clinging on to hope you can repress the rights of women for a situation that will never impact your life ever?

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    Mute SlinkyDog
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    May 26th 2018, 2:03 PM

    @Seth Cheffetz: actually he makes some valid points unlike yourself.

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 2:12 PM

    @Seth Cheffetz: If you want to make an informed point rather than an attempted slight on my character knowing nothing about me Im happy to engage

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    Mute Mark H
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    May 26th 2018, 8:26 AM

    Thank f#kc it’s all over. Look like the right decision is made. Now onto living our lives in a progressive country.

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    Mute Steve1234
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    May 26th 2018, 10:32 AM

    @Mark H: Yea killing unborn babies is so progressive.

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    Mute Ian Walsh
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    May 26th 2018, 12:42 PM

    @Steve1234: boil yer head.

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    Mute Deborah O'Lorcain
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    May 26th 2018, 8:35 AM

    Fantastic result but it’s not something to celebrate, laugh or cheer about. It will not be a happy experience for any women to have an abortion here or elsewhere

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    Mute Christina Melia
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    May 26th 2018, 8:41 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: It’s absolutely something to celebrate – Ireland has given women autonomy over their own bodies. And while ‘happy’ may not be the right word regarding abortion, for many it will be a blessed relief. I respect that.

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    Mute Free comment ratings
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    May 26th 2018, 8:42 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: I will celebrate.

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    Mute Negan Lucille
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    May 26th 2018, 8:45 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: Exactly, it’s not something you celebrate or start cheering about, you can be happy about it, but jumping up, clapping and cheering about it in public is not appropriate for this one, some serious morons out there in fairness

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    Mute Free comment ratings
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    May 26th 2018, 8:54 AM

    @Negan Lucille: I bet when the result is officially announced their will be people jumping up and down celebrating. I for one will not be calling the morons.

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    Mute Caroline Reid
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    May 26th 2018, 9:01 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: I agree with you! It’s a bittersweet victory. Yes finally many women will be able to get help that they truly need but let’s not forgot that it’s also the loss of a life. I cannot celebrate that.

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    Mute Negan Lucille
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    May 26th 2018, 9:01 AM

    @Free comment ratings: That’s coz you are also one

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    Mute Ciara Dowling
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    May 26th 2018, 9:17 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: I am celebrating for pregnant women who will now have the right to informed consent to medical procedures undergone whilst pregnant – a right denied by the 8th.

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    Mute Ciarān
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    May 26th 2018, 9:23 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: Exactly. Too many people treating this as some kind of competition. Not appropriate to celebrate in the streets for this one. Sure its great that women have a choice now but lets not forget that children will also die because of this. But I’m sure the repeal jumper hipster brigade will be out in force anyways for the party

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:31 AM

    @Ciarān: well said Ciaran 100%. Ignorance is bliss. I sincerely hope that we don’t turn around in 3/4 years time like UK/US and think, how do we control this? A life is lost with every procedure. That’s some cross to bear. The hipsters will realise this when they reach the age of parenthood.

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    Mute KT
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    May 26th 2018, 9:46 AM

    @Ciarān: “repeal jumper hipster brigade” how wrong can you be? 1000s of doctors and midwives and others that work with women day in day out and actually know what the 8th means came out for yes. It’s not some fashion, it’s real peoples lives.

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    Mute seanmccann
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    May 26th 2018, 9:51 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: Its a pragmatic decision but we still haven’t adressed why so many woman have crisis pregnancys. This isnt winning its just dealing with the realities. Well done for showing a little bit of class which has sadly been missing from the debate.

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    Mute Lucy Meagher
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    May 26th 2018, 9:57 AM

    @Ciarān: agree..It’s really saddening how far removed these people are from the reality of the trauma of abortion, to be celebrating like they are is really upsetting for those who have had abortions, it’s truly a tragic, awful experience to go through that I wouldn’t wish on any woman. It seems to be about ‘winning’ for a lot of them and a reaction to the past and the reign of the church rather than a realistic look at what abortion is. If euthanasia was brought in (which I fully support because it’s that person’s choosing and their own body NOBODY else’s involved) I doubt there’d be people drinking and partying. Very weird.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 26th 2018, 11:28 AM

    @Ciarān: I just saw someone post a photo on Instagram saying ‘we are the champions’ which proved to me that some people really did just see it as a competition and it’s really disappointing to see.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 11:39 AM

    @sam harms alternatively they have been taking massive amounts of abuse for months while working towards achieving a goal for women to have control and a say in their own reproductive health and they are celebrating same. I see nothing wrong with people celebrating this at all. No one is celebrating abortion and if you think they are, you really got this whole thing completely wrong.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 26th 2018, 11:55 AM

    @Dell: people can celebrate respectfully without saying stuff like we are the champions. There’s no need to gloat or rub it in the face of people who voted no.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 12:14 PM

    @sam harms they must be awfully fragile if that Is too much for them. Why the hell should they not express happiness anyway they want? For crying out loud do people want to control that now too?

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    Mute monika
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    May 26th 2018, 12:17 PM

    @Christina Melia: you are sickening, women body over the life of a human being. Some values you have.

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    Mute Adrian
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    May 26th 2018, 9:02 AM

    Hard to believe it, really. A few months ago I would never have thought that Ireland was ready to vote in such an emphatic manner to legalise abortion. This is pending legislation of course, but with such a likely clear majority yes vote, it surely can’t be stopped now. Well done to our politicians, this was always going to be a gamble once it was not just about the hard cases, but the gamble paid off. Not a time to gloat, as a strong yes supporter I always fully understood the position and arguments of the no side, despite disagreeing. I think we all have friends and family members on the opposite side, and I genuinely feel for them now. But we had to do this in my mind, it was no longer an option for things to continue in the way they were.

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    Mute Caroline Reid
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    May 26th 2018, 9:08 AM

    @Adrian: very well said.

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    Mute Mick12
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    May 26th 2018, 8:31 AM

    Ireland has come out of the dark age where the Church ruled every fact of life. No more will it hold such a sway in Irish life, the Pope is coming to a different nation and for those who will go see him it’s their choice s free choice like the women in Ireland who will no longer have to travel to Britain for an abortion.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:32 AM

    @Mick12: you do realise that this was an abortion referendum and not a vote on who goes to mass, yes. Atheist Ireland are out in force.

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 9:51 AM

    @Mick12: I think you are a logical person so follow the logic. Ireland was a tremendously influenced country by the Catholic Church, hence the 8th amendment. The church is losing support everywhere because we live in the 21st century now – and because they have been involved in too many scandals also, with children included!!! – hence the 8th amendment has been voted and it is gone. I am all about religion but not when it dictates critical functions within a society. Now you can say I am an atheist socialist murderer of babies if that makes you feel OK diegito

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    Mute Briain OSúilleabháin
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    May 26th 2018, 10:14 AM

    @Mick12: Just because something is modern does not make it progressive !

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    Mute Bill ORourke
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    May 26th 2018, 11:49 AM

    @Mick12: True but nothing is ever that straightforward. Dark clouds from the east gather above us.

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    Mute monika
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    May 26th 2018, 12:14 PM

    @Toki Wartooth: mr so smart in your own view, murdering children has NOTHING TO DO WITH religion or any church; but it has everything to do with ethics, morals and compassion, which are (clearly not in this nation) the very essence of humanity. You are so obsessed with the Catholic Church agenda that you all yes voters didn’t mind to condemn innocent ones to death. You condemn the Catholic Church for raping children, yet you voted to kill children yourself, so how are you any different, how are any better??? Shame on you all!

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 12:29 PM

    @monika shame on you for equating the life and health of a woman to that of a foetus. See how this works.. We could be going over and back with the dishing out of shame but that is and was always pointless. It may make you feel better but it will change nothing for anyone else.

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    Mute Rambon
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    May 26th 2018, 8:06 AM

    Abortion preys on the poor, it’s sad to say but the most vulnerable in our society will use this new arrangement the most. What an awful day for this nation.

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    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
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    May 26th 2018, 8:07 AM

    @Rambon: lolz

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    Mute Billy Connelly
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    May 26th 2018, 8:09 AM

    @Rambon: ehh stop talking rubbish now

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    Mute Rambon
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    May 26th 2018, 8:14 AM

    @DrRexButts: They sure have spoken and I will respect the result. But if you think I am sad and delusional you are sorely mistaken.

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 8:29 AM

    @Rambon: sadness will pass. You live in a better country today, hopefully you will realise about this in the future when you see that people keep on having babies and loving them. To think that women will abort just for the craic is a bit of s stretch and even if a minority do it think about the greater good this will bring for other cases.

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    Mute Bat Daly
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    May 26th 2018, 8:37 AM

    @Rambon: 69% disagrees with you.

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    Mute Ciara Dowling
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    May 26th 2018, 9:14 AM

    @Rambon: young socially disadvantaged mothers are at high risk of suicide. Access to early abortion services could have saved these women’s lives: https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/suicide-on-the-rise-among-mothers-in-poorer-dublin-areas-1.3502336%3fmode=amp

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:25 AM

    @Bat Daly: so 1 in 3 agree with him. That’s a very significant number.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:37 AM

    @ el Diego it’s significant only in that it means that it is a significant minority. If the exit polls are right, we are now living in an ireland that doesn’t allow the likes of you to dictate over women in crisis situations anymore. Long live this Republic.

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    Mute The Debater
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    May 26th 2018, 10:11 AM

    @Rambon: go back to sleep will ya

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    Mute Thomas O' Donnell
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    May 26th 2018, 10:32 AM

    @Ciara Dowling: What has that got to do with abortion? Research has shown that women with suicidal tendencies are actually less likely to go through with suicide if the pregnancy is carried to full term than if the baby is aborted.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 26th 2018, 10:55 AM

    @Rambon: really is that why you see women on social welfare with 4 or 5 kids yet working women who desperately want a family but cant afford to are waiting until they financially settled and can support a child.

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    Mute Ian Walsh
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    May 26th 2018, 12:36 PM

    @Rambon: Just delete your new Twitter account and crawl back under the rock from wence you came.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:42 PM

    @Dell: I don’t dictate to anyone Dell. We’ll leave to to Leo (imprison women or Vote Yes) and Mary Lou (Vote Yes or be disciplined). I’ve always been a repeal person, for hard cases, as you would know if you ever read my posts. I’m not in favour of abortion on demand. I just hope you and the other Yes voters are happy with Head 7 in 3 years time as this is what you have voted for.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:25 PM

    @el Diego You don’t get to decide which are “hard cases” and which aren’t.. You don’t get to decide who can and can’t have an abortion based on what you believe are good enough reasons… That is what I voted for and I’ll always I’ll be glad that the likes of you will never have a say over my body autonomy or my sisters, daughters, nieces or friends. I voted so that someone who uses the phrase abortion on demand when talking about someones personal situations and choices doesn’t have any kind of influence or say in whatever they do. I’ll never regret that.

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    Mute C_O'S
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    May 26th 2018, 8:50 AM

    It would be great if the new legislation be called ‘Savita’s Law’ as a tribute to her and her family.

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    Mute seanmccann
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    May 26th 2018, 9:54 AM

    @C_O’S: No. Im sure she was much more than a victim of bad law and medical negligence . Let her family and friends remember her for who she was. I hope this might bring a little comfort to her husband.

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    Mute John Murphy
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    May 26th 2018, 11:33 AM

    @seanmccann: Her family are actually OK with calling it after her

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:00 AM

    I genuinely had started to believe it wasn’t going to happen despite the positive feedback we were getting when we were leafleting and canvassing. We were in the city and we were told that it was far more promising than down the country. Well done rural Ireland. I Haven’t been on here, been out canvassing but have been checking in. Well done Francis, the risen, evie and all those who dealt with the lies and hyperbole on here. Oh and Tom Burke, wherever you are, I took your advise and got off my fat behind, thanks Tom, people like you made this happen.

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    May 26th 2018, 10:35 AM

    Good morning,Dell :) We had two Yes votes from my household.They were for my daughters,sisters,cousins and every other woman that wanted to have that 8th amendment removed from our Constitution…No need to thank me for annoying those people on here :)

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 10:50 AM

    @Dell: morning. 3 votes in my house and 5 from the legion of women from next door also. It’s great to see that those who stuck their necks out at the beginning and took loads of abuse in the Dail and on the streets had their hard work and perceverance pay off.

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    Mute Charlotte Bolger
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    May 26th 2018, 9:29 AM

    So happy and relieved this morning that compassion, courage and respect for the decision making of women in distress, has won the day decisively at long last.Respect to the leadership of Simon Harris, Micheal Martin and Mary Lou McDonald during the campaign.My first campaign in this country was lobbying to get rid of corporal punishment of children in our schools, this result is similar in many ways, for a kinder ,more inclusive Ireland.

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    Mute Porter Mechanic
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    May 26th 2018, 10:06 AM

    I voted yes, but I am ashamed of some of the behaviour of the yes voters using this as a new opportunity to mock and jeer ordinary decent religious people, I believe that extreme Liberalism is very dangerous and can be used as a vehicle to destroy our very unique irish values,

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 10:40 AM

    @Porter Mechanic: yes, much better behaviour by the ordinary decent religious people shouting murderers at us a few weeks ago.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 26th 2018, 10:49 AM

    @Porter Mechanic: I voted yes reluctantly because I don’t agree with unrestricted abortion but i know people who voted no and none of them were for religious reasons. More often than not it was the yes side bringing up religion rather than the no.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 10:54 AM

    @sam harms every pro life group I met were entrenched in religion. I’m not sure why people who voted no are even attempting to deny that.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 26th 2018, 11:00 AM

    @Dell: not everyone in the country is represented by groups who were canvassing. I voted yes but never once engaged with anyone about it because I wanted to make up my own mind. The people I know who voted no didn’t engage with those groups either and are the least religious people I know.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 11:16 AM

    @samharms they were the minority within the minority then

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    Mute Paul Delahunty
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    May 26th 2018, 9:18 AM

    ‘and yes I said yes I will Yes’

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    Mute man.over.board
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    May 26th 2018, 9:26 AM

    I voted yes but still remain opposed to abortion in general. If as the no campaign suggested that there is a better way now more than ever they will have the opportunity to show people what that is. They now can offer women a choice while we as a nation need no longer pretend that abortion doesn’t happen. Time to heal the rifts and for all concerned to work to make women’s health the best in the world.

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 9:36 AM

    Lies lies lies from the no side caught up with them they fought a desperate campaign

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    Mute Micheál
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    May 26th 2018, 8:39 AM

    Is iontach an lá é do chearta sibhialta!

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    Mute becca laste
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    May 26th 2018, 11:04 AM

    it’s a heart warming day to be an Irish woman. I worked as a student midwife when Savita Halapanaver tragically lost her life and it never left me. I don’t think it ever will. thank you Ireland for doing the right thing I’m helping future generations of women make their choice. #forsavita

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    Mute becca laste
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    May 26th 2018, 11:04 AM

    @becca laste: *in helping

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    Mute Albert Brennerman
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    May 26th 2018, 11:35 AM

    Voted No. Am No holy man here last time I was in church was a wedding. The only rights up to 12 weeks a perfectly healthy child has now is dependent on its mother.

    Maybe its the spectrum of society I see, but I don’t trust people. There will be the FFA and the victims of rapes, the woman who makes this choice once in her life through a mistake, the ones I can agree with.

    Then there’ll be those that revisit this repeatedly, those couples that choose not to have a child with a slight disability and those who’ll choose to terminate due to the lifestyle choices a pregnancy brings.

    This will be borne out in the statistics which I think will be delayed by design.

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    Mute niamh ryan
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    May 26th 2018, 1:48 PM

    @Albert Brennerman: if someone’s decides to have an abortion due to life style choices how is that any of your business? Morals are personal and you have no right to impose yours on anyone else. If someone feels like they can’t have a baby for reason such as they cannot face life as a single parent, financial reasons or it will trap them in a bad relationship then that’s their decision to make. Not yours

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    Mute Steve1234
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    May 26th 2018, 10:35 AM

    Shameful day for Ireland. Future generations will condemn this referendum the same way we condemn Magdalene Laundries and so on.

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    Mute Alex Kane
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    May 26th 2018, 10:57 AM

    But why didn’t God save the babies?

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    Mute John McQuaid
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    May 26th 2018, 10:30 AM

    History in the making, we are finally becoming a true secular Republic.

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    Mute ed w
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    May 26th 2018, 11:36 AM

    I now worry about the mess that’s going to be created when the gov try and legislate for this, lets be honest good legislation seems to be rare in this country recently more a case of seen to be doing something rather than addressing difficult core problems.
    I wait to be surprised.

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    Mute Robert Deane
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    May 26th 2018, 12:01 PM

    If the yes campaign could get rid of the church next they wont even be made feel bad about murder. Thou shalt not kill.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:28 PM

    @Robert Deane: have a good look at your bible Robert. Full of killing, smite and all sorts of violence. You are a bunch of hypocrites the lot of you.

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    Mute A Curious Mind
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    May 26th 2018, 12:12 PM

    Why do the left have such a hard on for abortion? Even as an atheist I think it’s a pretty disgusting and immoral act that devalues human life. It’s disturbing we’re at the point that society considers women being able to scrape a fetus out of their womb a fundamental right so they can go out and indulge in consequence free casual sex as much as they want. Whatever happened to personal responsibility?

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 12:24 PM

    @A Curious Mind: ah yeah..those brazen hussies.

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    Mute Chipstix
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    May 26th 2018, 2:50 PM

    @A Curious Mind: You should change your name to a sick mind.

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    Mute Jack McGready
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    May 26th 2018, 11:33 AM

    When will the final results be announced?
    The tension is unbearable, this could go either way.

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    Mute helen walsh
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    May 26th 2018, 10:18 AM

    What happens between now and legislation? Women still having to travel to the UK?
    We need information about this.

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    Mute EvieXVI
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    May 26th 2018, 11:53 AM

    @helen walsh: nothing changes until legislation is passed. Hopefully it will happen by the end of this year, but it will be slow.

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    Mute Anthony Gallagher
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    May 26th 2018, 11:29 AM

    we are fortunate to live in a democracy ,the decision has been an emphatic yes ,the will of the people must be respected .i will always have my reservations but i am glad the result is beyond any doubt .

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    Mute John Strahan
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    May 26th 2018, 11:13 AM

    It would be interesting to see the male/female split on both sides of the vote

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    Mute ed w
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    May 26th 2018, 11:37 AM

    @John Strahan: its on the rte exitpoll a few percent lower for men voting yes.

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    Mute Keith O'Reilly
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    May 26th 2018, 1:11 PM

    So proud of the country today! The scaremongering and hysterical ranting about hypotheticals didn’t work on us!

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    Mute Stipe Miocic
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    May 26th 2018, 12:34 PM

    I’m at the count center in Roscommon. It’s going 58%Yes. RTE had their main media here with Catriona Perry reporting. They were expecting Roscommon to go No as the only constituency to vote against Equality. But now It is more likely to be Donegal or Longford that could possibly go No, where the vote is much closer.

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    Mute Joanne Folan Healy
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    May 26th 2018, 1:13 PM

    Unfortunately I think many on the No side will not let legislation progress easily. The majority have spoken but they don’t care about that.

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    Mute Keith McDonagh
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    May 26th 2018, 12:57 PM

    Now maybe we can focus on whatever the next big issue might be & get it sorted, hopefully quicker than this took.

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    Mute Shala
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    May 26th 2018, 2:32 PM

    What sort of a plank do you have to be to go to the polling booth and spoil your vote? Why bother!

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    Mute Eugene Conroy
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    May 26th 2018, 6:27 PM

    Now can we address the housing and rental debacle

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    Mute Bill ORourke
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    May 26th 2018, 11:43 AM

    Okay, so now it’s one-all. When do we get the decider???

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    Mute James Davis
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    May 26th 2018, 1:09 PM

    I voted yes and as such am pleased at the outcome. But to be honest I felt this referendum brought out a petty and at times nasty side in a lot of people. The reductive, childish attitude of people discussing it really reminded me of arguing in the primary school yard. If you were voting yes that meant you were a godless lefty who delights in the killing of babies, if you were voting no you’re were a compasionless religious zealot (who probably thinks that recent scandals in the church were no problem at all). Never any acknowledgement that for many people it wasn’t a black and white issue. It’s so easy to assume you’re right and righteous and those with an opinion different to yours are wrong and evil. But it’s never that simple and if we lose the ability to truly debate and empathize then more and more division is sadly inevitable

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    Mute Fred Dunne
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    May 26th 2018, 11:49 AM

    Let’s have accurate reporting by The Journal. Constituency names don’t equate to Counties e.g. parts of South Donegal are in the Sligo/Leitrim constituency and tallies are saying they have voted in favour of repeal!

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