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Home Page > News > Two-thirds of Irish support gay marriage new poll shows

Two-thirds of Irish support gay marriage new poll shows

Unexpected high figure led by women and urban dwellers

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, October 22, 2012, 7:20 AM

Updated Monday, October 22, 2012, 9:10 AM

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Christine Quinn and her wife Kim Catullo, at their wedding last month in New York City

Photo by Google Images

A new poll shows that 66 percent of Irish adults support same-sex marriage.

According to the Journal.ie, the Behaviour and Attitudes poll in the Sunday Times found that among the 971 people who were surveyed earlier this month believe in gay marriage with legal entitlements.

The poll showed support for gay marriage is slightly stronger among women than men and is higher in urban areas than in rural areas.

While the majority of those polled believe in legal same-sex marriage, 26 percent believed that current legislation should remain where it stands where gay couples can only enter a civil partnership and eight percent said they did not know or had no opinion on the issue.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has described the issue of gay marriage as the “civil rights issue of this generation."

Read more: LGBT news stories

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STEVENSTAR | Dec 27, 2012, 09:08 PM EST

IT WAS REPORTED OVER HERE THAT IT WAS 75% I KNOW I KNOW THIS MUST COME AS A 'SHOCK' TO MANY AMERICANS WHO ARE STILL VERY HOMOPHOBIC ... OK ITS OK IN YOUR COUNTRY TO WALK AROUND WITH GUNS BUT NOT OK FOR TWO PEOPLE TO LOVE EACH OTHER ... IM GLAD I LIVE OVER HERE AND NOT THERE !!

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Bocktherobber | Oct 23, 2012, 06:18 PM EDT

I love Irish Central. It brings out the complete lunatics, when we'd normally never see them.

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Joe Kelsall | Oct 23, 2012, 10:56 AM EDT

I think this subject has been over analised: nobody in Ireland gives a toss! 'Come to Ireland and get a Pat on your back' 8-)

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bobby | Oct 23, 2012, 07:19 AM EDT

misneac no interviews took place, stupid. Many Polls done over the last 8 months with thousands upon thousands of people taking part, all polls were in favour of Gay marriage. The percentage in favour of Gay marriage in each poll was between 65% and 82%. So you are very WRONG, and you are in a minority. Best you climb back into the hole you crawled out of........Your probably in Denial.

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eiriamach | Oct 22, 2012, 07:50 PM EDT

bonjouryall says people "rarely fear homosexuals," yet bonjouryall stays out of public rest rooms out of fear of "what could happen" to him, LOL! The most offensive homophobes posting here are the ones who construe the bible or God or Christianity as blessing their bigotry. And perhaps not only pathetic but also blasphemous against the power of the Spirit to enlighten us about the equal worth of all human beings beyond group attributes like gender, race, and sexual orientation: "but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven" (Luke 12:10). So if you're really, really certain that you have God's own understanding of sexual orientation, rail on (like the Pharisees) against those who are different from you, but if you're not sure, better to be careful!

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Irishphotograph | Oct 22, 2012, 04:36 PM EDT

Should we allow a man to marry his horse? Because he loves his horse. Should we allow two consenting adults who plan to have no children get married? Oh yes these two adults are brother and sister. Evolution & Atheistic values teaches that the above should stand and be allowed. Homosexuals are people who prefer the sexual gratification of same sex over their God given morals. Atheist China are the biggest opponents to gay marriage.

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merefalow | Oct 22, 2012, 03:56 PM EDT

that poll is so obviously wrong,there is something seriously wrong with a statistic like this one.i think it was conducted in brighton honky tonk.i also consider it wrong to criminalise people of a religious conviction who consider homosexuality against their moral and religious beliefs,and dont wish to condone that behavior in their own homes,ie bed and breakfast and privately owned hotel,s,the powerfull gay lobby seem intent on forcing their convictions down our throats,no pun intended.they have achieved complete equality in all spheres of life but are still intent on overturning a 2000 year held religious belief that marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman for the creation of children,its wrong to force this(CHURCH WEDDINGS) on people of genuine religious conviction,and i,m an atheist.

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kilgara | Oct 22, 2012, 03:32 PM EDT

People who abandon Catholic tenents and natural law and latch onto media inspired "trends" such as gay marriage are gravely endangering their immortal souls for the sake of being "with it".

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Nicomax | Oct 22, 2012, 12:42 PM EDT

Many Irish Americans accept the principal that in the US civil law trumps religious law. This may not be the case in many middle-eastern countries, or even in Ireland up until recently, but it's hammered into our constitution and must be protected at all costs.

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Teresa Cross | Oct 22, 2012, 12:22 PM EDT

judiron, you're not living in the 21st century. If you hate the majority of Irish and hate tolerance,mercy and love then why don't you go live in a more backward country like Iran and become a Shi-ite Fundamentalist? I am a former Catholic who is now an Episcopalian (American equivalent of the Church of Ireland) and our church is one of the most merciful and tolerant of the diversity of people. I'd like to know how the Church of Ireland stands on this issue.

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ForTheRepublic! | Oct 22, 2012, 10:43 AM EDT

judiron this is an Irish website if you don't like Irish people then don't come here! I have no problem with gay marriage and I know alot of people that are gay who have restored my faith in humanity! They are wonderful kind people which I am sad to say cannot be said about alot of Christians who base their morals and views on the old testament and an angry God...enough said!

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jetsnoone | Oct 22, 2012, 10:31 AM EDT

A baby or child deserves the chance to be raised by a mother and a father............two dads, without a mom? Disgraceful. Wake up Irish folks, appreciate the moral teachings of the Church,

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bobby | Oct 22, 2012, 10:17 AM EDT

IrelandNorth, you are from a province full of Bigots, homophobic crime, Hate crime, Animal Cruelty, Racism and the Orange Order. Best keep your trap shut.

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bobby | Oct 22, 2012, 09:58 AM EDT

judiron what a knob you are. The majority of Irish people couldn't care less about your politics. As if Irish people care what Americans think about them. RTE news say 76% of Irish people support Gay marriage.

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judiron | Oct 22, 2012, 09:49 AM EDT

if you want gays running around your country that's your business, but stay out of our business. We couldn't care less who your president is and who are president is none of your business. Ireland is coming way down in their moral values and that's a big dissappointment for alot of americans.

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