The absence of those endorsing a yes vote at the count centre at Donegal’s Aura Leisure Centre was there for all to see – or not to see.
Not one member of any Government party or any of those endorsing a yes vote in either aspects of the referendum could be seen in the main hall at the Letterkenny centre.
In the centre of the room, referendum workers busily separated ballot sheets and boxes were opened from 9am on the button.
Outside of the cordoned-off counting area was occupied by a sea of nothing.
On local of national election days, you would have to pick your way through this congested space.
But you could have danced your way through the public area today such was the lack of interest at today’s count.
Two local Garda watched on wondering exactly how many hours it would take for counters to put them out of their misery.
There’s only so many cups of coffee you can drink while you watch people count ballot papers.
It’s a ‘no, no, no’ as the ballot papers show.
Mobile phones provided some respite as a constant eye was thrown on how Andy Farrell’s team were doing against the old enemy at Twickenham.
The ‘no’ votes came thick and fast and it was obviously early on that both referendum proposals were going to be rejected.
Returning officer Geraldine O’Connor and her team worked away diligently because despite the apparent lack of public interest, the count still needed to be carried out.
Aontu local election candidate, Mary T Sweeney, was at the count centre from early morning.
Bar the need to “pop up the town for a bowl of soup”, she remained at the centre for the entire day.
She was adamant that the Government had shown no appreciation for the role of the mother in the referendum.
Returning Officer Geraldine O’Connor announces the results of the referendum
She said “The problem with this referendum from the start was that it was only being brought in to bring about gender neutrality. There was no concept of the mother, of the woman. It was how to get rid of the mother and how to get rid of the woman because it was considered sexist.
“So it’s sad reflection on our politicians. There was no recognition or appreciation for the role of childbirth or the role of the mother and the sad reflection even greater than that is that there is an automatic presumption that the Irish people, the men, the women and the young people that they totally under-rated, that they thought they would equally and automatically just degrade gender neutral democracy and would be happy just to write women out of any protection that they have in the existing constitution.”
She also felt that the Government had overlooked the interest and concerns harboured by the younger generation.
She added “I think they underestimated the intelligence of our young electorate. I think they expected the young people to vote the way they directed. I have the greatest of respect for the young people of this country.
“They made up their own minds and they formed their own opinions of what they want in their protection an in their constitution and what protection should be afford to them and what protection should not be afforded to them and they have clearly said they want the woman, the mother protected.”
Voting in Donegal on the 39th Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023.
Total Electorate: 123,452
Total Poll: 49,363
Total Invalid Votes: 513
Total Valid Poll: 48,850
Votes cast in favour: 9,669
Votes cast against: 39,181
Voting in Donegal on the 40th Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023
Total Electorate: 123,452
Total Poll: 49,366
Invalid votes: 502
Total Valid Poll 48,864
Total votes in favour: 7,834
Total votes against: 41,030
