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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

415 replies

LayMeDown · 21/05/2015 14:13

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.

OP posts:
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5
blueballoon79 · 22/05/2015 12:06

So you don't hate gay people gabsdot, but you do wish to deny them the same rights as you have?

You say Ireland is inclusive? Do you know what inclusive means?

knittingdad · 22/05/2015 12:07

gabsdot45 - I hope that the referendum is for yes, and that in time you will come to see that the change enriches marriage, rather than going against your beliefs.

I think this is one of those things, like women getting the vote, that was seen as absurd many years in advance, controversial at the time, but obvious in hindsight.

MitzyLeFrouf · 22/05/2015 12:10

Ireland is actually, in my experience, (and I am a member of a minority) a very tolerant and inclusive place.

....says the person who's voting No. Confused

MaidOfStars · 22/05/2015 12:45

My reasons voting no come from my feelings and beliefs about marriage

Your feelings and beliefs about religious marriage.

Genuine question: do you recognise a civil marriage as a valid marriage?

madreloco · 22/05/2015 12:57

so your argument is you dont hate gay people, you just want them not to be allowed the same choices as you have? you want them to be denied the legal protections you enjoy, and you want their families to be legally less important than yours?

how do you treat the people you actually dislike then, if this is what you want for people you say you like?

Moln · 22/05/2015 13:07

A lot of No voters have a genuine reason for voting no. No one is saying that's not the case, however if your reasons are ones that actually have nothing to do with civil marriage don't be defensive if another person tells you that. It is not bullying. It is not being negative. It's just your reason for voting no aren't valid to the question.

I mean why not "I'm voting no because I don't like celery"

JasperDamerel · 22/05/2015 13:10

It will make a HUGE difference to the children of gay parents. I should know, because I was one of them.

CeliaLytton · 22/05/2015 13:16

I'm voting no because I don't like celery Grin

This is actually one of the better researched arguments I have heard for the no vote.

iammargesimpson · 22/05/2015 13:22

Although I'm voting yes, and every person I have spoken to is voting yes, I think the overall vote will be a no. I live in a very rural area where the church still has a fair bit of influence and change is not welcomed very well so I think the majority of people will vote no.

Whatever the outcome, it has highlighted that Ireland still has a long way to go in terms of acceptance :(

GarethCanFOff · 22/05/2015 13:27

By last night I was getting worried it might be a No, but there seems to be a high turnout which I think would favour the Yes. They said 60,000 extra people signed on to the electoral register recently (probably mostly young people).

It is early in the day yet though. I have never seen my polling station so busy (though I usually don't vote as early, so hard to compare). They told us at the station, when I asked, that it was even busier earlier. I live in a fairly young and liberal constituency so feel this is a good sign. It is busy in Dublin apparently as well which I think will also favour the Yes.

MitzyLeFrouf · 22/05/2015 13:29

Greystones had a 25% turnout by 12.15pm. Very encouraging for large turnout.

ComposHatComesBack · 22/05/2015 13:41

I respect the Catholic church's view that sex should only occur withn the context of a relationship between a Priest and a terrified and non consenting altarboy.

Quite why anyone is still prepared to listen to the Church on anything after the misery and cruelty they've heaped on people. Hopefully enough people vote Yes and drag Ireland into the 21st century.

MitzyLeFrouf · 22/05/2015 13:50

The church have actually kept a very low profile in this referendum. They know that overt opposition to Yes would work against them.

TTWK · 22/05/2015 13:52

Quite why anyone is still prepared to listen to the Church on anything after the misery and cruelty they've heaped on people

It's one of the great mysteries of our time. I wouldn't give them the steam off my piss.

TheCatsMother99 · 22/05/2015 13:53

I'm not Irish but from the bottom of me heart I hope it's a YES.

villainousbroodmare · 22/05/2015 13:59

There are actually a considerable number of people within the Catholic Church who have made public their intention to vote yes and canvassed for this referendum to pass.
I think that there is a significant difference between the official Church line and the attitude of large numbers of people who would regard themselves as Catholic.

Hoplikeabunny · 22/05/2015 14:09

If no voters don't like the idea of gay marriage, then fine, no one is forcing them to have a gay wedding, but why on earth does anyone think they have the right to tell anyone else how to live their life, and prevent them from marrying the person they chose? Seriously, who the bloody hell do no voters think they are? There is no good reason for voting no, if you think you have a right to vote no then you are actually just wrong, plain and simple. It isn't about opinion, you lose your right to an opinion when you so happily chose to persecute others.

MitzyLeFrouf · 22/05/2015 14:11

28.5% turnout in Stillorgan by 2pm. This is all very positive!

keepitsimple0 · 22/05/2015 14:14

I'm going to vote no and I certainly don't hate gay people.

isn't that a bit like saying I don't hate black people but think they should have separate schools or rules?

Glad that you don't hate them. Perhaps we can take the next step and make them equal.

Some people are going to vote no as a protest vote against the government.

this highlights how this vote is of no practical consequence for some, and really matters to others. if you want to punish the government, vote them out at next election. Don't take it out on a minority.

RedLentil · 22/05/2015 14:19

I just voted yes in a very rural polling station where the few other voters made me feel outnumbered.

In the second referendum on the age of presidential candidates, I spoiled a ballot paper for the first time in my life and wrote 'repeal the 8th.'

annieoaklie · 22/05/2015 14:31

A high turnout is v encouraging. Arguing that the institution of marriage will be damaged is like arguing that because the couple in the next street got divorced weakens my marriage.

When does the count start? In the morning? I wish they would count overnight like for the Scottish referendum, so we could wake up to the result.

RedLentil · 22/05/2015 14:36

I should say that I'm a practising Catholic as well as a yes voter, and so are 75% of the yes voters I know.

It's not particularly constructive to stereotype people who have religious beliefs.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has been quite clear that the church cannot dictate how people should vote, even while the hierarchy promotes a no vote.

leedy · 22/05/2015 14:38

Count starts at 9am tomorrow. My brother in law is going to be there, hopefully will be getting reports.

MitzyLeFrouf · 22/05/2015 14:49

Baggot St polling station saying their high turnout is down to young voters coming out in droves.

bumbleymummy · 22/05/2015 14:53

Well that's good news :)