WEXFORD: With 50 per cent of the 180 boxes tallied the Wexford Yes vote remains at a dominant 65 per cent and the No side trails at 35 per cent.
In New Ross – polling station of Senator Jim Walsh, who lost the Fianna Fáil whip – there was a significent Yes vote of 251 with 86 No from a valid poll of 409.
– Brendan Furlong
Waterford: Voters have given a resounding thumbs up to the same-sex marriage referendum with 59 per cent voting yes.
According to the final tally, 40 per cent have voted against the referendum, while 1 per cent of the votes were spoiled. Emotions are running high as 37,000 of the total votes cash have now been counted.
The Yes side is already starting to celebrate. The final result is due sometime in the afternoon.
Marriage equality referendum count electoral results: Electorate: 79,669; total poll 47,297; spoiled votes 364; total valid poll 46,933; Yes 28,313 = 60.3 per cent; No 18,620 = 39.7 per cent.
Joy and relief were the overwhelming emotions felt in the Waterford count centre, as it was announced that the Yes vote won by a margin of more than 20 per cent.
From 9am tallies came thick and fast at the count centre in Waterford Institute of Technology indicating the Yes vote would win.
Confirmation came shortly before 3pm when the final count revealed 60.3 per cent voted in favour of the Yes side, while 39.7 per cent were against the same-sex marriage referendum. Spoiled votes amounted to 364. Turnout was just short of 60 per cent.
Head of the Yes campaign in Waterford Michael Hennessy said: “It was amazing to see that some of the rural areas came out in strong favour of it. It is a big bag of mixed emotions. I am really delighted and overwhelmed by the Yes voters.”
St Saviour’s, Ballybeg voted nearly four to one in favour, which Mr Hennessy said was absolutely amazing.
In defeat, Head of the No campaign in Waterford John Walsh said the best possible effort was made. “We only had 20 key people there all the time putting up posters, leafleting and canvassing. It wasn’t easy,” he said.
A number of areas in Waterford city voted No, including two booths in St Paul’s, Lisduggan, and one in St Joseph’s, Parnell Street, which have an older population. Rural areas voting strongly in favour of Yes surprised him.
However, he added Modeligo and Mount Melleray voted No along with Ballysaggart, an area which voted 100 per cent against the divorce referendum in 1986.
– Claire Quinn