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Merged Irish SSM referendum.

Duffy Moon said:
"The No vote in Donegal is small, whereas the No vote in Limerick is far away."

[qimg]http://i60.tinypic.com/wlb1ts.jpg[/qimg]
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That has made me laugh loudly enough for the cat to jump off my lap and run away!

It looks like the yes vote has won, I am so pleased for Ireland and for my Irish friends.
 
A hilarious comment from a No voter, representing a Catholic organisation.
David Quinn of the Iona Institute, a Catholic group, said it was "obviously a very impressive victory for the 'yes' side".
"Obviously there's a certain amount of disappointment, but I'm philosophical about the outcome," he told RTE.
"It was always going to be an uphill battle - there were far fewer organisations on the 'no' side, while all the major political parties were lined up on the 'yes' side and you had major corporations coming out for the first time to say how we should vote on a particular issue."
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Naughty major corporations. Imagine a major organisation in Ireland saying how people should vote on a particular issue. The horror of it!
 
Rum said:
The retreat from traditional Roman Catholicism in Ireland is truly impressive.
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I think the shocking realization over the last dozen years that the nation had been living under a Catholic theocracy for decades has got them really annoyed and all backlashy.
 
Why a referendum? Can't parliament simply legislate? Is there something in Ireland's constitution prohibiting gay marriage?

Yes, I know I can research this, but it's late at night here.
 
lionking said:
Why a referendum? Can't parliament simply legislate? Is there something in Ireland's constitution prohibiting gay marriage?

Yes, I know I can research this, but it's late at night here.
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Essentially, yes, a change to the constitution is being proposed:

The Marriage Equality referendum was held on 22 May 2015. The referendum proposed to add the following text to Article 41 of the Constitution:[98]

Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.

Results are pending and will be known shortly.
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lionking said:
Why a referendum? Can't parliament simply legislate? Is there something in Ireland's constitution prohibiting gay marriage?

Yes, I know I can research this, but it's late at night here.
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No there is no specific Constitutional reference that had to be altered.
However a legislative approach would be subject to legal review and this methods is actually simpler. Plus the government lacked the moral courage to actually pursue that option after the courts passed the buck back to them a few years ago.
 
If anyone's interested the results of both referenda (and the by-election) can be found here.
 
There's another one about an hour earlier.

There was also the "ballot" cast by nine-year-old Carey, I saw that a few times on Twitter.

It was written on a sheet from a notepad used to tell the milkman how many to leave, so I don't think it counts.
 
Duffy Moon said:
There's another one about an hour earlier.

There was also the "ballot" cast by nine-year-old Carey, I saw that a few times on Twitter.

It was written on a sheet from a notepad used to tell the milkman how many to leave, so I don't think it counts.
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Nope.
Actually there were instances of medals and religious icons appearing in past ballots, so it's possible.
Technically placing anything other than the ballot paper in a box is illegal. The trivia one picks up clerking. :rolleyes:
 
What is the significance of 'miraculous medals', catsmate?

I am so happy for Ireland and for humanity today.
 
Agatha said:
What is the significance of 'miraculous medals', catsmate?

I am so happy for Ireland and for humanity today.
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They are medals, supposedly designed by Catherine Labouré who (even more supposedly) encountered Mary in 1830.
Physically they are small metal ovals (gold and silver are popular) with the phrase "O Mary! conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!" engraved on them.
They were (and to a degree are) popular with older Catholics in some countries (France and Ireland for example) who believe they can bring the intervention of Mary if worn with faith.
 
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