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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the Irish Abortion Referendum outcome will be a close call?

334 replies

Jellyfish456 · 24/05/2018 20:52

Polling day is within touching distance and from what I’ve seen on my social media channels, the vast majority seem to be swaying towards voting to Repeal. Do we think this is a true reflection of the majority or are the No side just less likely to be vocal on their social media channels? Whatever the outcome, I think it will be close.

What are everyone else’s thoughts?

OP posts:
winterwonderly · 24/05/2018 22:40

It's going to be a close call, and nothing would surprise me now after the brexit and trump outcomes that I didn't see coming. I do massively hope that it goes in favour of giving women a choice, mainly because that might help nudge NI along in moving into this century and updating its views on lots of things such as abortion and same sex marriage......

FadedRed · 24/05/2018 22:46

IMO (not that anyone is asking) the vote should be limited to females between the ages of 12 to 57ish who are residents of ROI. No one else.

nancy75 · 24/05/2018 22:46

Until recently I didn’t realise that abortion wasn’t available in NI, I am truly shocked & hope this vote in Ireland will shove NI in the right direction

GardenGeek · 24/05/2018 22:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MiggeldyHiggins · 24/05/2018 22:53

I refuse to believe it will be a no. I've spent the last month canvassing, manning stalls etc, but moreover I've spent the last 30 years working towards this.
This is our time, this is our day.

HorseOutside · 24/05/2018 22:56

I mean it when I say that DH's No vote is the most serious disagreement we've ever had in almost 30 years together. He's a wonderful man & I love him dearly, but this is very difficult for me to accept. It is the only thing we have ever fundamentally disagreed on.

He has said tonight that he might abstain. At least it's better than a No vote. I am thankful that our sons agree with me & will vote Yes.

winterwonderly · 24/05/2018 22:57

I believe it will be a yes, but it will be close. The vote on same sex marriage shows that attitudes in Ireland are changing. And so many people are travelling from all over the world to vote (why on earth can't they have postal votes?!). Keeping everything crossed......

switswoo81 · 24/05/2018 23:00

I couldn’t call it. I think yes will edge it. It’s all s but close to home as I was one of those 12 women a day who travelled to England. The referendum is the elephant in the room between myself and dh as it was with him I got pregnant the first time we slept together. He wanted to keep the baby . That was 14 years ago and we had a baby 6 weeks ago. We don’t discuss any part of the referendum. I will vote yes. I will never forget the plane journey home and the after pains that I couldn’t visit my family gp with. Abortion is never an easy option but the whole experience would have been a lot easier if I didn’t feel my country was condemning me.

LivLemler · 24/05/2018 23:07

My dad is a no, I'm assuming but it's a safe assumption. He was for equal marriage as well. It makes me think so much less of him.

I don't have a vote any more, but I'll be watching with interest. I'm worried it'll be a no.

teaorwine · 24/05/2018 23:07

Am really hoping and praying :) it will be yes... lots of women I imagined would be no voters wearing yes badges at work and that gives me hope. But think it will be close.
And what is it with middle aged male taxi drivers plastering their cars with vote no stickers?? Feck off, you will never have to make this decision.

LivLemler · 24/05/2018 23:09

Flowers switswoo81 you should never have been forced to travel in the first place. I hope future generations won't.

Ambs81 · 24/05/2018 23:10

I have been following it closely, I live in the UK - but was born in a very rural county in Ireland so following my family members and their opinions, yes I also think it will be (surprisingly) close, but ultimatley I'm sure it will go in the favour of repeal.

I bit like most referendums, its a shame its became about the extreme cases - I think they should focus on the question at hand.

MiggeldyHiggins · 24/05/2018 23:17

Btw its not an abortion referendum. The 8th affects so much more than abortion, it has huge impacts on maternity and womens health care as well.

AngeloMysterioso · 24/05/2018 23:22

After Brexit and Trump, any optimism I may once have had about elections going the ‘right’ (ie progressive) way has evaporated.

The media and opinion pollsters need to stop listening to strident campaigners, virtue-signalling celebrities and social media echo chambers. Elections are decided by silent majorities.

I hope the result is Yes, but I’m braced for yet another disappointment.

Exactly how I feel.

It has been so comforting to see all the #HomeToVoteYes posts on social media- until you realise that #HomeToVoteNo is also a thing.

NotLinkedIn · 24/05/2018 23:26

is home to vote no a thing Sad

omg.

AuntyElle · 24/05/2018 23:28

My DH remains to be convinced. Although I have explained I could die during a pregnancy he is grateful that his son was not aborted even though that is what he wanted at the time.

The male entitlement in this is off the scale. Really brings home why they shouldn’t have a say.

MiggeldyHiggins · 24/05/2018 23:31

is home to vote no a thing

yeah but its about 7 people. Home to vote yes is thousands and thousands.

GardenGeek · 24/05/2018 23:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsDilber · 24/05/2018 23:40

I think it's going to be a no.

What goes on in the privacy of a polling booth is another matter, than what people tell you to your face.

trixymalixy · 24/05/2018 23:40

I’m hoping for a yes vote, but sadly I fear it will be a no.

Just scrolling through the #hometovote on Twitter and feeling quite emotional about it.

Andro · 24/05/2018 23:41

The entire* Irish side of my family will undoubtedly be voting no...but then they also voted against equal marriage (hardcore conservative Catholics, bordering on fundamental).

*One possible to probable exception, but she still lives at home and there's no way she'd dare admit to voting anything other than no.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 24/05/2018 23:53

#hometovote I’m following it on Twitter
I think it’ll be a close run thing
After brexit,trump I’m no guessing any significant vote

EventNotInData · 24/05/2018 23:54

When will we know the outcome?

Wishing you luck from over the sea. Hope you win and it gives fresh hope to the women of Northern Ireland for a change in the law or at least an easier journey if necessary.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 24/05/2018 23:56

Of course men should vote it’s a moral and ideological issue
Childless women who have never experienced pg but still have an ideological pov

Chulainn · 25/05/2018 00:15

A lot of people I know who are undecided are having problems with the scope that voting yes implies. Mary Lou McDonald has been very vocal about the fact that the Dail legislates what the people demand and if we aren't happy we can kick them out. Irish people didn't vote Fine Gael in (as they didn't get a majority) but they are in power and a large number don't want Irish Water or water charges but guess what? We have Irish Water and they are still pushing the water charges agenda. Therefore trusting the politicians to legislate after a majority 'yes' as they set out before the referendum is a sticking point with a lot of people. Particularly as some politicians have already said the legislation will have to be debated and 'may change.

I think if the referendum had been set as options eg do you want abortion in the case of FFA then people would have been clearer on the consequences of a yes vote.

I also don't think the vitriol shown on both sides towards voters on the other side is helpful or warranted. It means, as a pp said, a lot of people are being vague on how they will vote as they don't want the extreme reactions that some people are giving. This is skewing all the polls.