REFERENDUM 2018: Early tallies predict a major swing to Yes in Cork

FROM SIOBHÁN CRONIN AT COLÁISTE CHOILM

EARLY tallies in the 8th Referendum count are predicting a 2-1 vote in favour of YES in both Cork South West and Cork North West.

With several rural boxes open here at Colaiste Choilm count centre in Ballincollig, it looks like a strong Yes vote will win the day.

In Cork South West with 64% of the boxes tallied (84 boxes), tallies are showing 62% yes, 38% No.

Among the first boxes to be opened were boxes from Ballineen, Belgooly and Bandon – all showing a strong 2-1 vote in favour of Yes.

A box from the Temperance Hall polling station in Kinsale showed a massive swing for Yes – with 216 Yes votes, with just 65 voting ‘No.’ Meanwhile, an early box from Goleen NS, also showed a massive swing in favour of the Yes vote, with an almost 5/1 majority in favour of Yes. However, with the final tallies in, the No votes have bounced back, but there was still a 2-1 majority in favour of Yes overall in Goleen.

This will be a massive blow to local TD Michael Collins, who was advocating a No vote.

Similarly, in Bandon, where No voter Fianna Fáil deputy Margaret Murphy O’Mahony is based, there was a strong Yes vote, albeit less equivocal, of about 2-1, according to the tallymen and women.

With a turnout of approximately 67% in Cork South West, this represented a 5% increase on the Marriage Equality referendum turnout.

In Cork North West, a total of 48% (63 boxes) of the boxes have been opened and tallied, and it’s looking like a 57% vote for Yes.