ANKARA
Ireland decided overwhelmingly to legalize gay marriage on Saturday with leaders on both sides of campaign announcing a massive Yes victory in the world's first national vote on the issue.
As ballot counting continued, David Quinn, a leading campaigner against the proposal, tweeted his congratulations to the Yes campaign.
Health Minister Leo Varadkar, who came out as gay at the start of the government’s campaign to change the constitution, said it was a special day for Ireland, public broadcaster RTE reported. "It seems to me that the Irish people had their minds made up on this some time ago," he said.
RTE reported that the Yes vote stood at 70 percent in parts of capital Dublin following Friday’s referendum and supposedly conservative areas were also showing a resounding vote in favor of change.
Official results were expected by late afternoon in Ireland.
The campaign was marked by a notable turnout from young people, with many returning to Ireland from abroad to vote.
"It represents a victory not only for the Yes side, but also for Irish society, Irish democracy and the young people of Ireland," National Youth Council Director Mary Cunningham said, quoted by RTE.
"This result sends a strong message to young people across Ireland that they are valued equally and that we want to promote respect and eliminate homophobia."
Sex between men was made legal in Ireland, traditionally a deeply conservative Roman Catholic nation, in 1993 and it took another three years before divorce was legalized.
If the Yes vote materializes as anticipated, the government will amend the definition of marriage in Ireland’s constitution.
