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Ireland Set To Say 'Yes' To Same-Sex Marriage

The Irish will find out today if they have become the first electorate in the world to vote for same-sex marriage, with the results showing a clear majority for a "Yes" vote.

The official result is expected to be declared soon, but "No" campaigners quickly admitted defeat shortly after counting started at 9am.

With only three constituencies out of 43 left to declare, the "Yes" vote is polling over 60%.

In Dublin, the "Yes" vote looks set to win by a landslide, with many constituencies recording tallies of over 70%.

Roscommon-South Leitrim is the only constituency where a majority of the electorate voted "No" (51.42% to 48.58%).

High turnout was recorded in all regions, particularly urban areas.

Irish cabinet minister Leo Varadkar, who came out as gay at the beginning of the campaign, said: "We're the first country in the world to enshrine marriage equality in our constitution and do so by popular mandate.

"That makes us a beacon, a light to the rest of the world of liberty and equality.

"It's a very proud day to be Irish."

The Iona Institute, a Catholic-leaning thinktank which was at the forefront of the "No" campaign, said it was a "handsome victory" for the "Yes" camp.

Senator Ronan Mullen, who campaigned for a "No" vote, said: "There is going to be a very substantial majority for a yes vote.

"I'm not at all surprised by that to be honest with you."

There are no postal votes in Ireland, but some emigrants felt so passionately they caught the boat home to vote.

Oonah Murphy said: "It feels really exciting to travel home with a group of people who not only see a 'yes' as necessary but they almost believe the question to be irrelevant, the question about gender and sexuality."

Joey Kavanagh added: "The hashtag 'HomeToVote' has been trending worldwide, people at home seem very inspired and encouraged by the fact that people are going to such great lengths to come home and vote."

Whatever the result, the bitter nature of the campaign has revealed the battle going on for the soul of a nation.

A former bastion of the Roman Catholic Church, Ireland has undergone dramatic social change in the space of just 40 years.

Contraception was illegal here until 1980, couples could not divorce until 1995 and homosexuality was only decriminalised 22 years ago.

Little towns like Boyle, where Sky's BAFTA-winning comedy Moone Boy is set, have not changed in appearance but they have in character.

Actor Chris O'Dowd, who heads the cast, grew up here in County Roscommon, where his Dad has witnessed cultural evolution.

Sean O'Dowd said: "I think people accept that change must happen.

"If you're going through life with a closed mind, you just can't have progress.

"We're not saying that societal changes in general are all for the better but I think, on balance, they probably are."

The Irish Government could have just legislated for same-sex marriage, but feared a legal challenge unless the constitution was amended.

When they announced a referendum, only five of the country's 226 Members of Parliament publicly announced that they would vote "no".