Ireland’s Struggle for Abortion Rights Should Be an Inspiration for the US

Ireland’s Struggle for Abortion Rights Should Be an Inspiration for the US

BY SINÉAD KENNEDY
Aug 22, 2022

Irish pro-choice activists had to overcome a rigid constitutional ban on abortion that was in place for more than 30 years. They succeeded by putting mass mobilization and a confident assertion of the right to choose at the heart of their campaign.

In May 2018, the Irish electorate voted by a two-to-one majority to remove or “repeal” the prohibition on abortion, known as the Eighth Amendment, from the country’s constitution. While opinion polls had suggested that pro-choice campaigners would win, most predicted a nerve-rackingly close result; certainly no one anticipated the sheer scale of the victory and the support for abortion access found across every section of society, from young to old, urban to rural.

Continued: https://jacobin.com/2022/08/ireland-abortion-rights-repeal-campaign-us-roe

Meghan Markle Salutes Irish Abortion Vote

Meghan Markle Salutes Irish Abortion Vote
The simple rule for royals when it comes to politics is, say nothing. But Meghan Markle, on her first overseas trip, showed she won't be silenced.

Tom Sykes
07.11.18

DUBLIN—Few would be surprised to hear that Meghan Markle is pro-choice, and perhaps it was only natural, when meeting a number of activists in Ireland's recent referendum to legalize abortion (the proposal was passed by a thumping majority) that she would express her enthusiasm for the cause.

Unfortunately for Meghan, two of the women she spoke to about the issue at a garden party in Dublin last night then took to twitter to publicize their encounters, meaning Meghan has now been drawn into a debate about the limits of royal political neutrality.

continued: https://www.thedailybeast.com/meghan-markle-blunders-into-irish-abortion-debate

Ireland Votes to Legalize Abortion. What Comes Next?

Ireland Votes to Legalize Abortion. What Comes Next?
Ireland voted in a landslide to support abortion rights. But making abortion care available will take much more.

May 26, 2018
Sarah Jaffe

To Isolde Carmody, Ireland’s overwhelming vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution was a vote to continue down the road that her great-grand-uncle, Joseph Plunkett, and his contemporaries fought for in 1916, in the first steps toward an independent Irish Republic.

“Joe was definitely a feminist, a revolutionary. He deeply believed in equality and in social justice, and that was why he was involved in the revolution in 1916,” Carmody told Rewire.News. Her great-grandmother and grandmother had fought for women’s health care and access to information on abortion rights. She continued that tradition campaigning for “yes” in Leitrim.

Continued; https://rewire.news/article/2018/05/26/ireland-votes-legalize-abortion-comes-next/

Ireland – Yes vote shows overwhelming desire for change that nobody foresaw

Yes vote shows overwhelming desire for change that nobody foresaw
Old assumptions about the urban/rural divide proved to be wrong

May 25, 2018
Fiach Kelly Deputy Political Editor

The findings of The Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI exit poll, if borne out when the result of the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution is announced, illustrate an overwhelming desire for change that nobody had foreseen.

The victory for the Yes campaign looks set to be neither narrow nor based on a few segments of Irish society. Rather, it will be carried high on the shoulders of a majority across the entire country.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/yes-vote-shows-overwhelming-desire-for-change-that-nobody-foresaw-1.3508879

25.05.2018

Irish referendum results

Irish Times exit poll

victory for Yes campaign

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‘I had no real interest in politics, until this’ – Ireland’s accidental abortion activists

‘I had no real interest in politics, until this’ – Ireland’s accidental abortion activists
On 25 May, voters in Ireland will decide whether to legalise abortion. Doctors, grandparents and those who have been forced to travel the UK to seek terminations have been raising their voices in a bid to shift the narrative

Joyce Fegan
Tue 22 May 2018

In September 1983, article 40.3.3 – the eighth amendment – was voted into the Irish constitution. It equated the life of the “unborn” with that of the mother. It gave rise to a ban on abortion in all circumstances from the moment of conception.

It also led to a grave national silence, whereby abortion was outsourced to neighbouring jurisdictions, with Britain becoming a place of medical refuge for at least 168,703 Irish women.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/22/ireland-abortion-vote-accidental-activists-eighth-amendment

Why Ireland faces fifth divisive referendum on abortion in 35 years

Why Ireland faces fifth divisive referendum on abortion in 35 years

Larry Donnelly
April 22, 2018

Back in 1983, two thirds of the Irish people voted to insert the following language into their constitution in a referendum: “The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.”

What became the 8th Amendment was largely driven by the Catholic Church and conservative forces, who were cognisant of a liberal abortion regime in the United Kingdom and the recognition of a constitutional right to abortion in the United States, and wanted to prevent something similar here in Ireland.

Continued: https://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/others/ireland-fifth-referendum-abortion-35-years

22.04.2018

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1983 abortion referendum

Can Facebook beat back the fake news in Ireland’s upcoming vote on abortion?

Can Facebook beat back the fake news in Ireland’s upcoming vote on abortion?
By Laura Hazard Owen
April 20, 2018

The growing stream of reporting on and data about fake news, misinformation, partisan content, and news literacy is hard to keep up with. This weekly roundup offers the highlights of what you might have missed.

Facebook ad transparency ahead of Ireland’s abortion referendum. On May 25, Irish citizens will vote on whether to end the country’s abortion ban. In advance of the referendum, CNN’s Ivana Kottasová reports, Facebook is rolling out a new tool that will “give users more information about political advertisements and sponsored posts in their News Feeds.” It’s already been tested in Canada and will roll out globally before the U.S. midterms.

Continued: http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/04/can-facebook-beat-back-the-fake-news-in-irelands-upcoming-vote-on-abortion/

20.04.2018

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anti-abortion fake news

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Susan Daly

Together for Yes

Transparent Referendum Initiative

‘Irish Times’ poll: Clear shift in attitude to abortion since 2013

‘Irish Times’ poll: Clear shift in attitude to abortion since 2013
Survey suggests majority will vote ‘Yes’ but making predictions is fraught with risk

April 19, 2018
Damian Loscher

Today’s Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll provides an early indication of public opinion and voting intentions in the forthcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

Albeit early in the campaign, a significant majority of those declaring their intentions are in favour of repeal – 63 per cent Yes, compared with 37 per cent No when unlikely and undecided voters are excluded.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum/irish-times-poll-clear-shift-in-attitude-to-abortion-since-2013-1.3467547

19.04.2018

Irish Times abortion poll

‘Irish Times’ poll: Public favour repeal of Eighth despite slip in support

‘Irish Times’ poll: Public favour repeal of Eighth despite slip in support
Strong backing for removing constitutional ban on abortion but fifth of voters undecided

April 19, 2018
Pat Leahy

The repeal side maintains a strong lead in the abortion referendum campaign with today’s Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI opinion poll suggesting there is a clear majority in favour of removing the constitutional ban on abortion.

Although support for repeal has slipped somewhat since the last poll in January, there is no growth in the support for retaining the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, while a fifth of voters say they have yet to make up their minds.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum/irish-times-poll-public-favour-repeal-of-eighth-despite-slip-in-support-1.3467503

19.04.2018

Irish Times poll on abortion

Ireland – Taoiseach to launch campaign for pro-repeal FG members

Taoiseach to launch campaign for pro-repeal FG members
Leo Varadkar to hold an event calling for a ‘Yes’ vote in Eighth Amendment referendum

Tue, Apr 17, 2018
Sarah Bardon Political Reporter

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is to launch a campaign for Fine Gael members in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment.

Mr Varadkar and a number of senior Ministers will hold an event this weekend outlining why they believe people should vote “Yes” in the forthcoming referendum on the Amendment.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum/taoiseach-to-launch-campaign-for-pro-repeal-fg-members-1.3464898

17.04.2018