Yesterday, Ireland voted in favour of repealing the eighth amendment.
Exit polls and voting tallies have since showed that an overwhelming number of people voted ‘Yes’ in the referendum.
While the official results weren’t announced until later in the day, late last night saw the beginning of tears and thank yous as campaigners, canvassers, and anyone who voted ‘Yes’ settled into the idea that this wasn’t just going to pass.
… It was going to pass by a landslide.
And while the majority say that their opinion on the matter hasn’t changed in years, that they always knew what way they would vote should a referendum be called, that their decision was not swayed by the last few months of campaigning, until today we didn’t know that for sure.
Today is momentous. Today is a celebration.
‘Yes’ is representative of the months, years, and decades of work pro-choice campaigners have devoted to securing this vote.
It’s proof that Ireland is filled with fair and compassionate people who were able and willing to educate themselves on a subject that has long been portrayed as divisive and totally complex.
It’s an indication that this country will stop telling women to take a flight or a boat and instead, as Minister for Health Simon Harris said today, “take our hand, we want to support you.”
Abortion is not something that anybody necessarily wants to do. Similarly, it’s not something that any woman ever intends to do – until she needs to.
Contraception fails, accidents happen, tragedies occur, and decisions are made.
Irish women have always been having unwanted pregnancies and Irish women have always been having abortions. We’ve been travelling to the UK, we’ve been ordering pills online, we’ve been sent away, stigmatised, and shunned.
These things have been happening in Ireland for years. Abortion has been happening for years.
The only difference now is that we are free to legislate for it.
The work of those who campaigned for years, the bravery of those who canvassed for weeks, and the strength of every woman in this country deserves recognition.
This is an historic day for Ireland and every woman and girl living here.
It needs to be remembered, and it deserves to be celebrated.
