Early tallies suggest that a No vote will prevail in both referenda – and while campaigners stress the counting of votes will continue throughout the day, a clear pattern has emerged in count centres throughout the country.
Landslide for the No vote in Dublin South Central in early #tallies pic.twitter.com/n0q037KERh
— Peadar Tóibín TD (@Toibin1) March 9, 2024
— Kevin Humphreys (@KHumphreysDBS) March 9, 2024
Tallies very patchy nationwide but all pointing towards No
4 boxes in Kingscourt Cavan showed only a handful of Yes votes
Sample in Birr Offaly showed 80% No in Family vote
In Mountmellick Laois 65% No for Family
Early indications in Meath East and Mayo are for a strong No— Barry Lenihan (@BarryLenihan) March 9, 2024
The ‘care’ amendment, which sought to remove recognition for the work of mothers in the home brought out strong opposition from women in the campaign, despite support from taxpayer-funded NGO for the YesYes vote.
Speaking to Gript from Kerry this morning, Catherina O’Sullivan of Women and Mothers United said that the ” mothers of Ireland had spoken” and that the people had shown they would resist any effort to remove mothers from the Constitution.
“The women and mothers of Ireland have spoken, we will not be removed from the constitution or allow this government to sell out on the family. Ireland respects its mothers and the overwhelming No has shown that,” she said.
— Founder, Natural Women’s Council (@Jklunden) March 9, 2024
If we win and it looks like we will, it is a win for mothers, motherhood, women and families. It is a win for truth, realism and ordinary people. It is a bloody nose for a government that is power-drunk and soulless; a craven opposition and a corrupt NGO industrial complex that…
— The Countess (@TheCountessIE) March 9, 2024
Questions around the meaning of the term ‘durable relationships’ also caused headaches for the government, who faced tough questioning from Senator Michael McDowell and others on the impact of the proposed changes.
'Lawyers for No' have called on the Irish people to reject both proposed constitutional amendments saying they could wreak havoc on family and succession law. pic.twitter.com/CMk3sqSjuT
— gript (@griptmedia) March 1, 2024
The country knows what to do today. #VoteNoNoRef24 pic.twitter.com/3f8wxgkpKY
— Senator Sharon Keogan (@SenatorKeogan) March 8, 2024
It's an Armageddon of a rejection for the yes side here in #Limerick across multiple count centres note we heard a staff member in count centre say 🤭 – have the Irish mothers and people who were silent for so long throughly awoken?#Referendum2024 #Referendum
— Limerick Now (@limerick_now) March 9, 2024
Very high strong No/No in working class areas of Dublin City
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) March 9, 2024
It's one thing for the Government to lose a referendum, but this looks like a stunning rejection. One TD worries the no vote percentage could be "in the high sixties".
— John McGuirk (@john_mcguirk) March 9, 2024