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| Irish abortion referendum: official results show big lead for yes – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Over half the constituency results are now in, and the count stands at 66% and 34%, on a record turnout of 63.9%. The national broadcaster RTÉ says the final national results should be announced within an hour. | |
| Some readers who’ve got in touch with the Guardian have described how difficult the referendum campaign has been because of the sensitivity of the issue. | |
| Michelle, a writer and mother of two young boys who lives in Dublin, says she was one of the “silent” yes voters: | |
| I was one of those women, partly because of the very conservative workplace that I am employed in of but also because I did not want to offend no voters, who did not discuss my opinions. Why, I wonder now, did I not feel comfortable to speak out, to be honest, to loudly shout how passionately I felt about the need for Yes? Because I grew up in an Ireland that diminished the rights of women, punished women for being unmarried mothers and in some cases incarcerated those women and removed their children from them. | |
| When she heard the result, Michelle said: | |
| I felt like a weight had lifted, that shame and stigma surrounding so many women in my own family had been wiped away. It was acceptable at last for a woman to make her own decisions and live her life without judgement. | |
| Kate, a scientist and mother living in rural Ireland, said she voted yes, but reluctantly: | |
| Yes is the right decision but discussion needs to continue regarding support for women in Ireland. We need to examine our society at a deeper level and have more discussion about factors such as contraception, social housing ... mental health. Abortion is the last resort for women. I would like to see both sides working together now to make family life better in this country and abortion as rare as possible. | |
| If you’d like to share your reaction, you can do so here. | |
| It looks like Donegal is shaping up to be the only place to spoil the yes campaign’s party, reportedly by a very slender margin: | |
| BREAKING: Based on tallies, Independent TD @ThomasPringleTD has told RTÉ that "it will be a No vote" in Donegal | |
| More results, thick and fast. And once-conservative Roscommon confirmed as yes: | |
| Limerick City 66.87% yes, 33.13% | |
| Louth 66.55% yes, 33.45% no | |
| Meath East 69.21% yes, 30.79% no | |
| Kildare North 73.56% yes, 26.44% no | |
| Dublin North-West 73.08% yes, 26.92% no | |
| Roscommon-Galway 57.21% yes, 42.79% no | |
| Ireland’s children’s minister, Katherine Zappone, has stressed to Sinéad Baker the need to enact legislation the country’s new abortion legislation as soon as possible: | |
| The minister for health has promised to publish the bill before the summer and it would be our intention to ensure that we bring that forward before the end of this year. Until that happens women still need to travel or to take an abortion pill from online delivery that’s illegal or unsafe until we get the better law in place. | |
| Zappone also thanked the women who had shared their stories of how they were affected by the eighth amendment: | |
| It’s because of their willingness to tell their stories that they were able to change the hearts and the minds of the citizens but also many of the politicians too. | |
| Another result: Offaly 58.05% yes, 41.95% no. | |
| Calls are mounting for the British government to take steps to reform the strict abortion regime in Northern Ireland following the Republic’s historic decision. | |
| Labour MP Stella Creasy: | |
| This weekend 2.5 million Irish women won the basic human right to make choices themselves about their own bodies - those who fought this victory did so because these rights are at the heart of equality. Yet as we celebrate, we cannot rest knowing a million women in Northern Ireland do not have the same choice and that the UN has accused the U.K. government of cruel and inhuman treatment of their own citizens as a result. We cannot let Northern Irish women be left behind. | |
| Cara Sanquest form the London-Irish Abortion Rights Campaign: | |
| The result today shows that the people of Ireland want to provide care and compassion at home. This was a grassroots campaign, with women’s voices at the centre. Women in Northern Ireland, who do not have access to abortion in their own country, are at the forefront of our minds today. Eleven women from the island of Ireland boarded planes this morning to access abortion services abroad. We’re looking forward to a swift passing of the legislation, and that the momentum from this result will carry on with our campaign to decriminalise abortion in Northern Ireland. | |
| Grainne Teggart, Northern Ireland campaigns manager for Amnesty International: | |
| The referendum result is a momentous win for women’s rights. This marks the beginning of a new Ireland - one that really does trust and value its women. The UK Government can no longer turn a blind eye and deny us equality, they must urgently legislate for reform which must include decriminalisation of abortion. We cannot be left behind in a corner of the UK and on the island of Ireland as second-class citizens. | |
| It’s becoming a procession: | It’s becoming a procession: |
| Wexford has voted 68.40% for yes and 31.60% for no. | Wexford has voted 68.40% for yes and 31.60% for no. |
| Limerick County 58.08% yes, 41.92% no | Limerick County 58.08% yes, 41.92% no |
| Tipperary 59.15% yes, 40.85% no | Tipperary 59.15% yes, 40.85% no |
| Kildare South 70.66% yes, 29.34% no | Kildare South 70.66% yes, 29.34% no |
| Clare 64.28% yes, 35.72% no | Clare 64.28% yes, 35.72% no |
| The president of March for Life, the US anti-abortion rally that backed the SaveThe8th campaign, has reacted with dismay to the projected result. The group’s president, Jeanne Mancini, said: | The president of March for Life, the US anti-abortion rally that backed the SaveThe8th campaign, has reacted with dismay to the projected result. The group’s president, Jeanne Mancini, said: |
| We are deeply saddened to learn that many Irish people voted against love and life by repealing the 8thamendment. Americans know from experience that there will be many grave and irreversible consequences to this decision, including the loss of precious lives. | We are deeply saddened to learn that many Irish people voted against love and life by repealing the 8thamendment. Americans know from experience that there will be many grave and irreversible consequences to this decision, including the loss of precious lives. |
| A study released this week shows that legalising abortion greatly increases the number of children whose lives are terminated in the womb. Though they are the first, unborn children are not the only victims; abortion harms mothers too. | A study released this week shows that legalising abortion greatly increases the number of children whose lives are terminated in the womb. Though they are the first, unborn children are not the only victims; abortion harms mothers too. |
| Life is the empowering decision. We grieve for the great loss this beautiful country will endure and we pray that they find a way to reverse this unfortunate decision. | Life is the empowering decision. We grieve for the great loss this beautiful country will endure and we pray that they find a way to reverse this unfortunate decision. |
| Another result is in: Laois 61.35% yes, 38.65% no | Another result is in: Laois 61.35% yes, 38.65% no |
| They’re having a ball down at Dublin Castle, too: | They’re having a ball down at Dublin Castle, too: |
| Grand old singalong in Dublin Castle @dangriffinIT pic.twitter.com/XLXmRQ60A0 | Grand old singalong in Dublin Castle @dangriffinIT pic.twitter.com/XLXmRQ60A0 |
| Sinéad Baker is with the Together for Yes campaign who have gathered yes campaigners in a Dublin hotel to watch the results come in. | Sinéad Baker is with the Together for Yes campaign who have gathered yes campaigners in a Dublin hotel to watch the results come in. |
| A diverse crowd of hundreds of people have gathered. Local organisers from all parts of the country are here with their teams alongside the politicians and students who have been key to the campaign. | A diverse crowd of hundreds of people have gathered. Local organisers from all parts of the country are here with their teams alongside the politicians and students who have been key to the campaign. |
| Results coming in are met with huge cheers and some stunned disbelief. Listen to the delight as Carlow-Kilkenny votes 63.5% yes: | Results coming in are met with huge cheers and some stunned disbelief. Listen to the delight as Carlow-Kilkenny votes 63.5% yes: |
| And another. With seven constituencies declared, the vote now stands at 68.7% in favour of repeal overall. | And another. With seven constituencies declared, the vote now stands at 68.7% in favour of repeal overall. |
| Waterford 69.43% yes, 30.57% no | Waterford 69.43% yes, 30.57% no |