Inishbiggle island gives big thumbs-down to same-sex marriage

Inishbiggle island gives big thumbs-down to same-sex marriage


Analysis
Áine Ryan

IT is fortunate for those in favour of same-sex marriage that the tiny inshore island of Inishbiggle was not representative of how the constituents of County Mayo were going to vote last Friday. According to Fine Gael tallies, ten people voted No and just two voted Yes when the boxes for the island, which lies between Ballycroy and Achill, were opened in the TF Royal Theatre last Saturday morning. While island outpost, Inishturk was split right down the middle (For:11; Against:11), Clare Island returned a majority of five against (For: 25; Against: 30) with the county’s biggest island, Achill, also against the proposal.
Ultimately, a clear urban-rural divide was revealed in the tallies with the population densities of the larger towns bringing the Yes side over the line, with an overall county result of 52.02 percent in favour and 47.98 per cent against.  Of the 55,929 people who voted in polling stations from Cloghans to Corraun, Rossport to Killasser, Belmullet to Louisburgh  last Friday, 28,801 voted in favour of gay marriage while 26,566 voted against the proposal.  
Of the four municipal districts in the county, Ballina was the only one to record a No vote (For: 5,198; Against: 5,264). However, this figure was based on incomplete tallies that did not include all the urban boxes from Ballina and Crossmolina. There was just a whisker in the difference in the Claremorris Municipal District, which returned 50.81 percent for and 49.19 percent against the proposed amendment (For: 4,901; Against: 4,744). The biggest margin was in the Taoiseach’s home district of Castlebar where 54.87 percent said Yes and 45.13 percent said No (For: 7,267; Against: 5,977).
The margin in West Mayo was greater with 53.67 percent voting Yes and 46,33 percent voting No (For: 5,899; Against: 5,093). Interestingly, one tally from the Scoil PhΡdraig polling station in Westport returned an almost two-to-one in favour (For: 308; Against: 158) while Cuilmore NS in Newport revealed a similar pattern (For: 57; Against: 24).

Taoiseach Enda Kenny welcomes Mayo’s Yes

“In the privacy of the ballot box Ireland has made a public statement. The people of Mayo and Ireland have answered the call of families and friends, of neighbours and new acquaintances.
As I said throughout this campaign, I myself have come on a personal journey on the issue of marriage equality. It was the personal stories I heard all over Ireland and here in Mayo that brought me on this journey. This referendum was about inclusiveness and equality, about love and commitment being enshrined in the constitution.
For a significant proportion who voted against the amendment it was because of genuinely held views which are to be respected.
Here in Mayo I particularly want to thank YES Equality Mayo who worked so hard with Fine Gael and on their own to ensure that every citizen in this country is equal before the constitution. With them, they brought a new voter - people who had never engaged in the democratic process before and for that I thank them. Over 1,100 additional voters registered in Mayo alone. The people have spoken. They have said yes. Ireland, and Mayo, thank you.”  

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE REFERENDUM

Mayo
Electorate: 97,296
Turnout: 55,929 (57.48%)
Invalid 562
Valid Poll: 55,367
For: 28,801 (52,02%)
Against: 26,566 (47.98%)

PRESIDENTIAL AGE REFERENDUM

Mayo
Electorate: 97,296
Turnout: 55,932 (57,49%)
Invalid: 534
Valid Poll: 55,398
For: 13,167 (23.77%)
Against: 42,231 (76.23%)