Less than a week from the same sex marriage referendum, a poll conducted by The Irish Times shows 58 percent in favor and just 25 percent against. 17 percent are undecided.
The referendum takes place on Friday, May 22nd.
The poll shows minor slippage on the "Yes" vote side but no overwhelming move to the "No" position as was feared by many Yes side proponents.
The poll shows that women more than men support same sex marriage and that Labour Party supporters are the strongest Yes voters while Fianna Fail voters are strongest No participants.
The poll came in the weekend that Irish singer and entertainer Daniel O’Donnell yesterday announced his support for a “Yes” vote in the Irish same-sex marriage referendum.
O'Donnell has a huge following among Irish housewives and country music fans and his "Yes" vote stance is considered a huge boost for that side.
Speaking with Ray D’Arcy on RTÉ Radio One, Donegal Daniel told listeners, “I think everyone should be equal” and dismissed the idea that the a “Yes” vote would affect the lives of those voting “No” in any way.
“I can’t see what a Yes vote is going to do against anybody,” he continued.
The country crooner told D’Arcy that he found it difficult to completely understand what the referendum was about with other issues such as adoption, the family unit and surrogacy being brought into the debate.
“I just feel we’re discriminating against a lot of people who feel their lives would be better,” he added. “I can’t see anything on the other side that will be detrimental.”
Raised in a single-parent home, “Wee Daniel” also didn’t agree that a child necessarily needed a mother and father to constitute a proper upbringing.
“I was brought up without a father. My father died before I knew the benefit of a father. It was just my mother,” he told RTÉ Radio One listeners.
“All of the people who know what they’re talking about are telling us that it’s absolutely no difference who brings up the children, as long as they’re brought up in a loving environment.”
O’Donnell’s decision to come out in support of same-sex marriage is a striking coup for the “Yes” campaign just a week before Irish citizens take to the polling booths on May 22.
The country singer has previously discussed his reluctance to become involved with his wife Majella on religious grounds as she was a divorcee. His religious commitments caused him to initially end the relationship only to eventually marry her in 2002.
“From a religious point of view, this was something that posed difficulties for me,” he writes in his book “My Story”, “and I was grappling with my conscience over the whole thing. I eventually made the tough decision to step back from the romance.”
Unfortunately, D’Arcy was forced to call a halt to the discussion due to time restrictions placed on those advocating a “yes” or “no” vote, in the interests of balance.
When questioned by O’Donnell on his own voting choice, D’Arcy declined to comment saying, “I’d be fired.”
“I might be fired after this, too,” replied O’Donnell.
Should public figures publicize their standing in the same-sex marriage referendum or should they remain neutral? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
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