The polls have closed in the Republic of Ireland, where voters have been taking part in a referendum on whether to legalise same-sex marriage.
More than 3.2m people were asked whether they wanted to amend the country's constitution to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry.
Polling stations closed at 22:00 BST and counting is due to start on Saturday morning.
They reported an "unusually high" turnout on Friday.
Irish state broadcaster RTÉ said the turnout in most areas was well ahead of what it had been in recent referendums.
Dublin, Limerick and Waterford passed the 60% electorate turnout mark, while in Cork, Carlow, Kilkenny, Donegal, Tipperary, Kerry and Galway it was above 50%.
Prior to Friday, votes had already been cast in some islands as well as hospitals, hospices and nursing homes. Irish citizens who are registered are allowed to vote, but there is no postal voting. Many people returned to Ireland to cast their votes.
They were asked whether they agree with the statement: "Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex".
The referendum was being held 22 years after homosexual acts were decriminalised in Ireland.
In 2010, the Irish government enacted civil partnership legislation, which provided legal recognition for gay couples.
But there are some important differences between civil partnership and marriage, the critical one being that marriage is protected in the constitution while civil partnership is not.
Presidential candidates
A constitutional convention established by the Irish government in 2013 considered the specifics of a proposal on extending marriage rights, as well as discussing other changes to the constitution.
It voted in favour of holding a referendum on same-sex marriage and the date was announced by Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny earlier this year.
A separate referendum, on whether the eligibility age of presidential candidates should be lowered from 35 to 21, is being held at the same time, along with a parliamentary by-election in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency.
Same-sex marriage is currently legal in 19 countries worldwide.
Ireland votes
Ireland votes
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Ireland votes
It passed!!
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg, paraphrasing Sarah Moore Grimké
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MajGenl.Meade
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Re: Ireland votes
Not sure that's legal though......
For Christianity, by identifying truth with faith, must teach-and, properly understood, does teach-that any interference with the truth is immoral. A Christian with faith has nothing to fear from the facts
Re: Ireland votes
The Republic of Ireland has voted overwhelmingly to legalise same-sex marriage in a historic referendum.
More than 62% voted in favour of amending the country's constitution to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry.
It is the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage through a popular vote.
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said it was a "small country with a big message for equality" around the world.
The referendum was held 22 years after homosexual acts were decriminalised in the Republic of Ireland.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32858501
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Ireland votes
Ireland's equalities minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin lost his composure earlier today when it became clear the way the vote would go, tweeting: 'Ireland hasn't just said "Yes"... Ireland has said: "FUCK YEAAHHHH"'.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Ireland votes
And good for them.
yrs,
rubato
yrs,
rubato
Re: Ireland votes
Bless them!! Fantastic turnout and wonderful results!! 
eta: Amazing when you consider just a couple decades have passed since they barely passed a divorce referendum, by a quarter percent of the vote. Squeak!
eta: Amazing when you consider just a couple decades have passed since they barely passed a divorce referendum, by a quarter percent of the vote. Squeak!
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: Ireland votes
I didn't know there were gay Irish people.
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MajGenl.Meade
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Re: Ireland votes
Well, there's John Fitzpatrick....
For Christianity, by identifying truth with faith, must teach-and, properly understood, does teach-that any interference with the truth is immoral. A Christian with faith has nothing to fear from the facts
Re: Ireland votes
There are plenty of gay Irish people...
In fact some of them are downright festive...
In fact some of them are downright festive...
Re: Ireland votes
So Patrick is gay too?MajGenl.Meade wrote:Well, there's John Fitzpatrick....
Re: Ireland votes
And all this time I thought they were just happy...Lord Jim wrote:There are plenty of gay Irish people...
In fact some of them are downright festive...
Re: Ireland votes
the IRA has just announced the Worldwide Clan-iphate s support for gay marriage
tho they have deep reservations, they acknowledge that the measure will only help in their effort to bugger the English....
they also believe that the measure will help to pacify the English countryside, which has been severely frustrated by the confiscation of English sheep and collie dogs...
tho they have deep reservations, they acknowledge that the measure will only help in their effort to bugger the English....
they also believe that the measure will help to pacify the English countryside, which has been severely frustrated by the confiscation of English sheep and collie dogs...
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oldr_n_wsr
- Posts: 10838
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Re: Ireland votes
How have you been Hen?
Long time no post.
Long time no post.