A win for the “yes” side in the vote to ratify the latest European treaty was widely predicted after counting began in Ireland.
The Irish Independent newspaper reported the vote was close to a to 55-45 per cent split.
"We are very, very confident. ....so far so good," Ireland's European affairs minister Lucinda Creighton said.
Dominic Hannigan, deputy director of elections for the Labour Party, told Reuters the referendum looked set to pass by a margin of 57 percent to 43 percent based on the early vote counting.
It was apparent that there was a deep division between middle and upper class voters who were voting yes in large numbers and working class areas which were voting no.
The poor turn-out, at just over 50 per cent, was seen as a sign of deep apathy among the electorate towards a treaty that was difficult to explain and comprehend.
Yet its passage will send a sigh of relief all around Europe where the fear was that an Irish no vote would further destabilize the economic situation.
Prime Minister Enda Kenny, whose Fine Gael party campaigned for a Yes vote alongside Labor and Fianna Fail, was said to be happy at the Yes vote indications.
Kenny’s Fine Gael party even used social media messages to try and get people out to vote before the polling stations closed at 10pm on Thursday night.
“Turnout very low so far. Important to get your vote out. Please contact family and friends and encourage them to vote this evening,” the party messaged.
Reports say that confusion reigned amongst many voters as they arrived at the polling stations.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Sinn Fein deputy Jonathan O'Brien pointed to the previous low turnouts favouring the No side in Nice 1 and Lisbon 1.
“So here’s hoping again,” he said.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Bythebay | Jun 27, 2012, 12:17 PM EDT
NYCsheridan, thick American, no such thing as being forced to leave Ireland.
Bythebay | Jun 27, 2012, 12:13 PM EDT
seanomelb, so called proud Irishman who ran off to Australia at the first opportunity, really a proud Aussie Brit.
sirpeter | Jun 08, 2012, 09:34 PM EDT
They always do Seano.They always do leave the building.They want to give their 2 cents worth and then run away.
seanomelb | Jun 04, 2012, 08:26 PM EDT
I suppose you have left the building audreybolton,but if you are still around I cannot add to sirpeter's fine assessment which you chose to ignore.BTW I'm an ex serviceman(Irish)myself not that you should use that fact to garner some sympathy for you plastic Irish attitude.I am a proud Dubliner and I have no issues with my "Irishness". I hope you arrive home safe from your overseas duties. slan
audreybolton | Jun 04, 2012, 07:48 PM EDT
Seanomelb: I have never been "brow beaten" and I still need an explanation of what a "west brit" is? Have you an inferior complex about being Irish? I haven't. George: I am on peacekeeping duties abroad with the Irish Army and I have never played golf, I'm more interested in athletics and Gaelic football. Guarding relics is not in my remit and anyway it's been returned. You're getting more vindictive by the minute and obviously hate the Republic. I don't think we care. Goodbye and Good Night to you both.
sirpeter | Jun 03, 2012, 09:00 PM EDT
NYCsheridan.There is a million plastic British people living on this island.Most have been living here for hundreds of years.They are anglophilic in matters of culture and politics.Taking a view of Irish history which highlights perceived positive aspects of British influence in Ireland, or criticizing Irish nationalist rebellions.The are embarrassed by or disdainful of aspects of Irish culture,such as the Irish language,Gaelic games or Irish traditional music.Opposition or indifference to a United Ireland and to Irish republicanism.I know many Protestants and I mean a lot if you get my meaning.All of the above is true.It doesn't apply to all of them but a lot.They have a tendency to drag down anything and everything Ireland has achieved and pump up anything negative in Ireland.When these "West Brits" are in real British company they are very sensitive because real Brits consider them Irish and if a true Brit makes an Irish joke which they love doing when in England.The west brits get very defensive because they suffer from Cultural cringe.You must be blind if you can't see the self-hate and derogatory remarks among some of the people here who live in Ireland.To Paddy for Tommy and to Tommy for Paddy.
seanomelb | Jun 03, 2012, 07:04 PM EDT
Fosters is not a popular drink in Australia Fosters is an overseas brand get it straight.My drink of choice is Jameson(18yr.old).If you haven't worked out what a west Brit is you're a sad case.
NYCsheridan | Jun 03, 2012, 08:28 AM EDT
Seanomelb, wth is a West Brit, put down the Foster's man and sober up.
NYCsheridan | Jun 03, 2012, 08:25 AM EDT
Once again the idiot bythebay makes ridiculous xomments regarding those who were forced to leave ages ago in order to feed those who stayed bwhind (you know, their brothers, sisters, parents) and who sent back money in order to keep them alive. What a worthless, useless POS you are.
seanomelb | Jun 03, 2012, 03:48 AM EDT
audreybolton you've made my point with your Adams/Sinn Fein quip and the return of violence only a brow beaten west Brit would make such a silly comment.
Bythebay | Jun 02, 2012, 04:36 PM EDT
Someone in Melbourne, Australia calling people in Ireland West Brits is also laughable, Australia is part of the British Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II is their monarch.
Bythebay | Jun 02, 2012, 04:16 PM EDT
Slurs against people in Ireland such as Protestant, West Brit only show the ignorance of those using them. Most of them emigrated long ago or their ancestors emigrated long ago either because they did something wrong and had to leave or they were so incompetent they couldn't survive in Ireland. The IRA Provo Adams and his Sinn Fein thugs will not succeed in Ireland just like they failed in Northern Ireland UK.
Bythebay | Jun 02, 2012, 04:04 PM EDT
I think someone living in Northern Ireland UK which gets an allowance for its expenses from the Government at Westminister in England is baseless criticizing a free and independent republic. Especially when Northern Ireland UK and the rest of the United Kingdom is a member of the EU and has categorically said would not leave the EU when Germany suggested it should consider doing so.
GeorgeDillon | Jun 02, 2012, 02:29 PM EDT
Word from Ireland today is that yet another priceless artefact of Irish culture has been stolen, either by Eastern Europeans or by tinkers,. Where the hell were you AudreyBolton, you're paid to protect the Irish nation and its patrimony. You were probably playing golf at the time this atrocity was being perpetrated, with the other worthless jerks you hang out with. You're a useless waste of space.
audreybolton | Jun 02, 2012, 02:14 PM EDT
Seanomelbourne; I was not speaking for myself on this post. We just so glad it's all over or we would have to vote again. What is a West Brit, someone who doesn't agree with you? Sounds like you left Ireland because you did something wrong. If you ARE in Melbourne, then you can't decide for us. Just as well, Adams and his gang would soon break cover if they took power in Ireland and we would be living at the point of a gun. One civil war is enough! So you don't like us,put up with it. You don't have to live with the consequences.
sirpeter | Jun 02, 2012, 01:39 PM EDT
allan07.I like your analogy about your elderly grandmother who moved in with you and has a bad smell and has no personal hygiene.I still feel sorry for your grandmother though that she had to move in with you.
allan07 | Jun 02, 2012, 04:38 AM EDT
The Republic of Ireland is small, unstable and a bankrupt state that has failed since its independence in 1922. It cannot be brave enough to be on its own and has a economy that depends on euro grants and handouts. Even those who hate the British eg. @seanomelbourne understand that without the recent bilateral loans with Britain (£10 billion a few months ago) the Irish economy would have run out of money this month. Ireland will never be able to leave the EU as it could never stand on its own two feet. Just like a elderly grandmother who moves in with their children. Unable to look after their self and dependent on their money for food and warmth. They sit in the corner, watch tv all day and cause a bad smell as they have no personal hygiene. Ireland is the same within the EU.
seanaci | Jun 02, 2012, 12:32 AM EDT
The referendum should have been postponed for a month so it could coincide with the anniversary of the Act of Union, July 2nd, 1800. Then, as now, Ireland handed the remains of its sovereignty over to a distant parliament and we all know how well that turned out.
VonLiebenitz | Jun 01, 2012, 07:47 PM EDT
Ah yes.It may still be a no vote. So by their statistics 80% of this country is working class and there we could swing any election.If the idiots got off their fat back-sides and actually voted.The Treaty was simple and easy to understand.As were the issues at stake. So working class apathy ruled the day yet again.Sad.People are so busy worshiping at the local soccer stadium or the other holy shrine the pub or they are worshiping false idols on the tv screens.Why don,t they just register Drinking and Football as official religions and give themselves tax breaks and be free from the property tax while they are at it?The people of this country never fail to disgust me.There is no excuse not to vote.I dont want to sound cliched but the having the right to vote is a recent development in human history yet ppl behave as if they always had it and think" why should i bother it wont make a difference.Well the polls speak otherwise.The break up of the eu in inevitable and in some cases even desirable for many good reasons.All you have done is delay the day of judgement. For that day is coming.And i for one cant wait.Maybe ill just emigrate to Iceland instead.Those people seem to have a clue about what they are doing. 1 for Europe-1 for the Republic Of Ireland.That is if you want to look at the issue that way.
seanomelbourne | Jun 01, 2012, 06:31 PM EDT
Maybe you can explain why he's the most popular politician in the country and the polls show that there's only a few percentage points between Sinn Fein and the west Brit(look after the rich)Finn Gael party.You certainly do not speak for about 25% of the people and to put it in perspective no party has a majority in Ireland and 45% of the people say no.You my dear Audrey can state when you can use the phrase "enough said" when referring to yourself and the rest of us can debate the issues without your whimpering west Brit monologue.
audreybolton | Jun 01, 2012, 11:51 AM EDT
Its YES from the Irish Republic. At least now we can plan ahead and whatever the hard times, if we can pull together on this and call on all our strengths, we will get through this eventually (thou it may take a long time).We must trust in ourselves and keep the politicans up to scrath. At least we are not at war! The Taoiseach when asked about sparring with Gerry Adams said a few minutes ago "I have done so many times in the Dail (Parliment) and "MR. ADAMS IS NOT THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, MICHAEL MARTIN IS." Enough said, the matter is now closed and the majority are not interested in seeing Adams puff himself up again and try to make himself important except to some posters on this website. He too has avoided debates with Miriam O'Callaghan, Vincent Brown and Una Halligan. We don't know over here what people see in him. He has never done anything for the people of the Republic except try to undermine the State. He and his friends in Sinn Fein will just have to live with the result! They are already complaining about the result.
francisquinn | Jun 01, 2012, 10:03 AM EDT
It goes to show you how much influence "Paul Krugman " of defecit fame has