Polls predict two-to-one chance Ireland will say ‘yes’ in gay marriage vote

Irish voters are set to back the introduction of gay marriage by a margin of as much as two-to-one next week and become the first country to approve the policy in a national plebiscite, a series of polls indicate. Long considered one of the most socially conservative countries in Western Europe, support for gay rights has surged in Ireland in recent decades as the power of the Catholic Church collapsed in the wake of a series of child abuse scandals. The Irish Times poll of 1,200 voters showed 58% planned to vote in favour of the measure compared to 25% against and 17% undecided.

If somebody says: 'I am a gay person and I want to get married’ - is their own family going to deny them that? Are our own fellow citizens going to deny them that?

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny

Two more polls to be published in Sunday newspapers put support for the constitutional change above 60 percent, while a third saw the advantage of the Yes side slip to 53 percent with 24 percent opposed and almost as many undecided. Long a taboo in a country that only decriminalized homosexuality in 1993, gay rights have been championed by all the main political parties. Irish voters go to the polls on Friday, with the results of the referendum expected the following day.