To rally Irish voters here and ask is anyone voting No tomorrow?

[LayMeDown]

I know there's lots of Irish on MN. I don't know anyone in RL voting No. But polls indicates it's tightening a lot. I'm getting scared it won't pass and my lovely brother and his partner will be left out in the cold again. What are you all hearing in your circles?

FYI for any non Irish there is a referendum tomorrow on introducing same sex marriage in Ireland.

I'm all cried out after today! Such an emotional and joyous day!!!

Proud to be Irish.

I am shattered! My poor children (will no one think of them ) have been neglected by their mother all day as I've been glued to rte player and newstalk.

My sister was at Dublin Castle. Apparently a bunch of lesbians next to her started singing 'Goin' to the chapel'

I am so proud of all of us today. Panti Bliss posted that he hadn't checked himself all day and didn't feel oppressed.

I'm crying again typing this - grá is the law. Happy happy day.

Oh and apparently I'm now catering my best friend's wedding Not sure how I got roped into that quite so quickly

And wouldn't you be scarlet to be from Roscommon - South Leitrim tonight! God love them.

And did anyone see Breda O'Brien on SixOne? Sour grapes much? I don't use this word much but I HATE that woman!

I'm hoping Breda O'Brien will disappear off to the wilds of Roscommon to be with her people.

She was one of my teachers in school and I hated her as much then as I do now. I once got in a big row with her when I was 15 because I told her abortion should be available to all women in Ireland.

I'm still right Breda!

Did you hear she was arrested?

'She kept shouting “this is for the children, this is for the children’ and was holding up a crucifix like a shield.'

Apparently that was a hoax report.

So very very proud to be Irish right now. Been in tears so often through out the day. I really didn't believe it would happen…??????

Well yes ballet, it's Waterford Whispers.

Ashamed to be from the fascist state of NI tonight. I'd have voted yes in a heart beat. It's a fantastic vote and I hope the beginning of a sea change in how Ireland views itself.

Good woman Crystal!! Why oh why she has such a voice I do not understand. My mother and sister keep threatening to cut off my sub to the Irish Times as I turn into a ranting lunatic any time she writes.

Totally agree Maryberry, I really hope that our MLA's look at this issue now, as it is a disgrace that we will be the only part of the UK and Ireland without this right.

I am a bit thick though - if a gay couple living in NI get married elsewhere, is it recognised legally in NI? Or is it just that they cannot physically get married here?

I support gay/transgender/straight/bi individuals but I think that marriage is a traditional old fashioned concept that doesn't reflect the changing climate of equality and tolerance. It seems almost hypocritical to call it gay marriage, it needs a term that reflects tolerance and equality.

By the way, only young people who have been away for less than 18 months could come home to vote. So talking about past referenda is a bit of a moot point.

Missduke, the MLAs have voted on the issue three times now and it can't get passed due to the DUP not supporting it.

Knowing I'll be vilified for expressing an opinion, but I don't support gay marriage.

I do support gay civil partnerships. If you wish to express your love and lifelong commitment, why would you not protect your partner with a civil partnership? This gives the protection they need and deserve in an equal society, but I don't think all marriages by this new definition are equal. The big stopper for me is 2 men or 2 women cannot on their own create a new life, which is intrinsic in the traditional marriage definition. If you just want a commitment in any relationship, hetero- or home-, civil partnership gives you the rights you need.

I am fully accepting of gay relationships so now that there is equality under the law (it was there before the gay marriage ruling so for me a step too far), can we now stop giving money to Gay Pride marches? We are proud of you - there is no need to keep carrying on about it. Either that or can we have Straight marches too please?

Fed up of flaunting your sexuality & being ashamed to flaunt mine. I really don't care what you do in your bedroom as long as you love each other.

MissDuke If a gay couple living in NI get married elsewhere it will be recognised in NI as a civil partnership. The same as in England when we had c.p. but not yet s.s.m. and two women living in England married in Canada claimed that should be recognised as a marriage here, sued, and lost. I imagine they will have converted it by now.

Justsaying do you think infertile people shouldn't get married then? Or those past menopause?

Because they can't create new life either.

can we now stop giving money to Gay Pride marches?

I sincerely doubt you've ever given the price of a tutti frutti chew to any gay marriage parade. But why would it bother you if they're held? What harm is it doing you? Also, the concept of straight pride is as silly as anti white racism.

And if you're ashamed of your sexuality, that's something for you to deal with - I suggest psychosexual therapy. But don't blame gay people for your issues.

Fed up of flaunting your sexuality & being ashamed to flaunt mine.

Why are you ashamed?

Most straight people aren't. Every time you go out the door you encounter straight couples holding hands, arms around each other, hugging, kissing, etc. You rarely, if ever, see gay couples doing the same.

Stop projecting your issues onto the rest of the world. Live and let live. Love and let live.

JustSaying, you'll be 'vilified' because your 'opinion' is poorly-reasoned bigotry, not because you expressed it. Do you really not understand the differences between civil and religious marriage? And are you actually claiming that marriages between men and women where one or more of the parties are infertile/post-menopausal are 'invalid' because they don't involve potential children?

And yes, seek help for your own shame about your sexuality. Gay Pride marches are irrelevant to your own issues.

The big stopper for me is 2 men or 2 women cannot on their own create a new life, which is intrinsic in the traditional marriage definition.

Ok, so your definition means that I am not married, though I have a marriage certificate that says differently, because DH and I cannot create children without a shitload of medical intervention, which includes other people removing my eggs and injecting DH's sperm into them.

I could never understand why people want to deny others the joy of marriage.

The big stopper for me is 2 men or 2 women cannot on their own create a new life, which is intrinsic in the traditional marriage definition.

I went to a wedding last year of a couple in their fifties, both widowed, no children. I can't imagine their home will be hearing the patter of tiny feet unless it's nephews' and nieces' and friends' children.

So, JustSaying, should they be allowed to marry?

I'm not going to vilify you. Just disagree with you. We can both live with that. Just as you can agree with the gay couple next door being married instead of just in c.p. Give it a go, it's easy if you try!