Ireland’s divisive referendum on same-sex marriage

Voters in the Republic of Ireland will make history on 22 May 2015, by holding the world's first national referendum on legalising same-sex marriage.

The vote marks a pivotal moment in the evolving relationship between Church and State in Ireland, pitting religious leaders against the government in an historically conservative and Catholic country.

The Church has urged the public to reject the proposal, while the major political parties say it is a civil not a religious matter and are campaigning for a Yes vote.

(A separate referendum on the same day concerns reducing the age of candidacy for the President of Ireland from 35 to 21).

• Primary Source

Wikipedia: Irish constitutional referendums, 2015 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_constitutional_referendums,_2015

Ireland: Referendum Commission: Marriage Referendum and Age of Presidential Candidates Referendum http://refcom2015.ie/

The Guardian, 25.04.15: Brian O’Driscoll lines up with Gay Byrne to support same-sex marriage in Ireland http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/25/brian-o-driscoll-gay-byrne-same-sex-marriage-ireland

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 13.05.15: Ireland’s referendum on same sex marriage could be a watershed moment for equality http://bit.ly/1PhxXIl

The Conversation, 19.05.15: Explainer: Ireland’s world-first popular vote on gay marriage https://theconversation.com/explainer-irelands-world-first-popular-vote-on-gay-marriage-42033

BBC News, 18.05.15: Republic of Ireland preparing to vote in same sex marriage referendum http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32757228

The Conversation, 20.05.15: Irish Catholic Church’s stance on gay marriage is unconvincing https://theconversation.com/irish-catholic-churchs-stance-on-gay-marriage-is-unconvincing-42034

EUObserver, 21.05.15: Irish referendum: 'The gayest day in history'? https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/128783

Politico, 20.05.15: Gay Ireland http://www.politico.eu/article/a-catholic-bastion-ready-to-be-torn-down/

EurActiv [Opinion], 21.05.15: Irish vote on same-sex marriage: Why it is (also) the business of business http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/irish-vote-same-sex-marriage-why-it-also-business-business-314768

Irish Examiner, 21.05.15: Irish must vote for gay marriage (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE163409-Irish-must-vote-for-gay-marriage

EUObserver, 02.11.15: How has Ireland's gay rights referendum changed activism? https://euobserver.com/lgbti/130908

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