Ireland marriage equality vote results TODAY. Pro-side joyously expecting VICTORY.

[pnwmom]

Here's hoping. (It is very significant that the rural areas are also voting pro-marriage equality. This was expected in the large cities but not so much in rural areas)

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/05/23/world/europe/ap-eu-ireland-gay-marriage.html

DUBLIN — Ireland has begun counting ballots from its referendum to legalize homosexual marriage, and political observers say the first ballot boxes opened point to a victory for gay rights.

Observers from parties and pressure groups observed Saturday's count of votes from Friday's referendum, the first national vote on the issue held worldwide. All initial vote counts in Dublin and rural areas showed majorities voting to amend Ireland's constitution to permit gay marriage.

A government minister, Kevin Humphrey, is forecasting a landslide victory for the "yes" campaign. Fianna Fail party leader Michael Martin says it "looks like an emphatic win for the yes side."

A senior campaigner against gay marriage, John Murray of the Catholic think tank Iona Institute, says his side is bracing for likely defeat.

[MADem]

1. There's been a backlash against "the hierarchy" over there for some time.

It even predates a lot of the Magdalene Laundry coverage that came to the fore, back to when archbishops and other clergy were being found to have fathered children and used church monies to support them and their paramours.

A lot of people figure if the Church is for it, they're against it--they've had enough of that nonsense!

[pnwmom]

2. That does seem a part of it. I'm amazed by the stories of people

who were flying back from all over the world just to vote, because they don't have absentee ballots. What spirit!

[MADem]

3. I was out in the west, in a very rural part of Co. Galway, a few years back,

and I got into a discussion with a guy at a bar about church malfeasance, spurred on by a scandalous headline in the paper. I knew a lot more about the matter than I was letting on, but I played the clueless dolt and started asking people their opinions about this thing and that. Next thing you know, a few guys in the pub got on the horn and called their pals to get on down there, and we ended up having one of the liveliest conversations I'd had in many years. I guess I was the night's entertainment! I learned a lot about attitudes in that end of the country, and I was rather surprised at the lack of rigidity in some regards. People do have the capacity to surprise ya--and in good ways, too.

[Cha]

4. "Take a look at how the people of Ireland are showing support for marriage equality. #VoteYes"

UpworthyVerified account
?@Upworthy Take a look at how the people of Ireland are showing support for marriage equality. #VoteYes http://u.pw/1GuqmAA


Kevin Beirne
?@KevBeirne Came #hometovote all the way from London and found my mum had made some subtle changes to my room for me #VoteYes

http://theobamadiary.com/2015/05/22/a-tweet-or-two-291/

Mahalo pnwmom

[pnwmom]

5. Mahalo, Cha!

And thank you! I love this!

[Cha]

6. You're Welcome, pnwmom.. I thought you would!

[kevinbgoode1]

7. While the results won't be officially announced until 4 p.m. Irish Time, it is looking good for YES

You can follow some of the livestream posting with the Irish Times here:

http://liveblog.irishtimes.com/635f85be44/LIVE-The-counts---Ireland-decides/


One person remarked that it may be entirely possible that it could carry in every constituency. And while I would be cautious until anything is official, there are indications that the opposition has acknowledged likely defeat, at least according to posts on the Times site.