Irish citizens have been sharing photographs and stories on social media as they travel home to vote in the gay marriage referendum.
Ireland could become the first country to legalise same-sex marriage through a referendum. More than 3 million people are eligible to vote, including 60,000 expats. Those who have left the country less than 18 months ago are able to vote in the referendum, but need to show up at a polling station in person.
Before the vote on Friday, Twitter was filled with pictures of people returning home to have their say on gay marriage, with some decorating their trains accordingly:
This is the scene on the 9:10 London to Holyhead train as Irish abroad return #hometovote #marref pic.twitter.com/spVfkb5sIT
— Naomi O'Leary (@NaomiOhReally) May 22, 2015
Others, upon their return, found their parents had decorated for them:
Came #hometovote all the way from London and found my mum had made some subtle changes to my room for me #VoteYes pic.twitter.com/BOdxqXhJoN
— Kevin Beirne (@KevBeirne) May 21, 2015
The account @gettheboat2vote Twitter account has been encouraging Irish citizens overseas to travel home and has also been sharing their stories.
Didn't get a badge so made this little print out instead. Home to vote YES #MarRef @gettheboat2vote @YesEquality2015 pic.twitter.com/oxP7pUa3eT
— Helen Kennedy (@HKHunterKiller) May 21, 2015
@gettheboat2vote @ireland Starting my trip from Goettingen to come #hometovote #voteyes #YesEquality #MarRef #PresRef pic.twitter.com/tCP5Y9gKws
— Jason Byrne (@JasonByrnePhD) May 21, 2015
I'm coming back to @ireland to vote in #MarRef. I'm coming back to help make history. I'm coming back for the future. pic.twitter.com/myq5tjAZ9e
— Ian McCafferty (@CommunalSpoon) May 21, 2015
According to these tweets, Irish expats have been travelling from far and wide to vote:
He's come #hometovote from Berlin! #BestFriendEva pic.twitter.com/vaVC8j43cq
— Jack Eustace (@JackAEustace) May 21, 2015
I travelled from #AbuDhabi & I'm #hometovote @NewstalkFM @DublinAirport pic.twitter.com/CguZqgtj6f
— Henry McKean (@HenryMcKean) May 22, 2015
.@ireland @nessymon Good to know J! Myself&friend Dan nabbed a few others going #HomeToVote in Bxl Airport last night pic.twitter.com/DSMJZUGePD
— Emma Cassidy (@CassidyEmma) May 21, 2015
On the way- from Bangkok airport #hometovote pic.twitter.com/NmpzHE8e1F
— Carol Hunt (@carolmhunt) May 21, 2015
In Heathrow airport waiting for a flight to Cork to go #hometovote #MakeGráThelaw pic.twitter.com/ST04TMUQ0t
— Debbie O'Neill (@debbiemoneill) May 21, 2015
Some who were unable to vote because they could not get back to Ireland have been encouraging others to vote yes with the hashtag #BeMyYes:
History is being made in Ireland right now. Sending love and support from South Africa. #BeMyYes
— Aoife Lennon-Ritchie (@AoifeLennon) May 22, 2015
Wish I was at home tomorrow to give my YES vote.. Come on Ireland let's show the rest of the world how it's done.. #equality #BeMyYes
— susan mcfadden (@susiemc1983) May 21, 2015
The referendum result is expected to be announced on Saturday afternoon.
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