Irish abortion referendum - LIVE: Official result confirms overwhelming win for Yes vote as Ireland rejoices

Presbyterian Church in Ireland urges 'No' vote

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has come out in support of a 'No' vote in the upcoming referendum. In a letter read out at services on Sunday, the church said the Irish government's proposed changed to abortion law are "regressive, incompatible with human dignity and morally unacceptable". 

Only about 0.5% of people in the Republic of Ireland belong to the church. The Catholic Church - to which almost 80% of the population belongs - also opposes repealing the eighth, and advocates for a pro-life stance.

Save the 8th campaign denounces graphic anti-abortion posters

A spokesperson for the 'Save the 8th' campaign has spoken out after images appeared on social media showing anti-abortion campaigners demonstrating outside a Dublin maternity hospital.

Four demonstrators were seen holding two large banners with images of a foetus, and they could be seen being challenged by passers by - one of whom was "in tears", according to the woman who posted the pictures.

Speaking to RTE in response, John McGuirk of the 'Save the 8th' campaign condemned the posters and distanced himself from them. He later tweeted saying campaigning outside maternity hospitals was "wrong and unhelpful".

It has also been reported that similarly graphic images have been displayed outside the Irish parliament, Dail Eireann.

U2 back Repeal

Tonight, legendary Irish rock band U2 have tweeted their support for repealing the eighth, urging people to vote on 25 May.

Cervical cancer scandal engulfs Irish government

With just four weeks until the referendum, a major political scandal regarding women's health is causing shock waves around the country.

It has emerged that over 200 women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer in recent years should have received earlier intervention, and that 17 of those affected have since died.

The government has agreed to launch an investigation looking at all women diagnosed with cervical cancer over the past decade.

Addressing the issue in the Dail today, taoiseach Leo Varadkar said, “This country is one that hasn’t always treated women very well - so I am determined to get to the bottom of this."

The scandal piles pressure on the minister for health Simon Harris, who is advocating a Yes vote in the referendum, and will be responsible for introducing abortion legislation if it passes.

No campaigners empty chair absent health minister

Love Both, an official group campaigning for a No vote in the referendum, have held a debate this evening in which they empty chaired health minister Simon Harris.

Mr Harris was invited to debate with the pro-life group, who tonight shared their concerns that the government is not being honest about the legislation they plan to put forward in the event of a Yes vote. In particular, they expressed their fears that repealing the eighth would allow for terminations of babies with Down Syndrome.

Music legend Mary Black supports Yes

One of Ireland's best loved singers, Mary Black, has come out in support of a Yes vote, while performing at a Together For Yes event tonight at the Olympia in Dublin.

Singing her classic song 'A Woman's Heart', she told the audience, “I’m proud to support this event. I’m proud to be Irish."

Legal expert says Irish abortion law would not be like Britain's 

One of the main concerns in the referendum debate is that removing Ireland's abortion ban would open the country up to the more liberal abortion laws in place in Britain, including late term terminations. Varying claims and statistics around this are being used by the No campaign to sway undecided voters.

The government has said that in the event of a Yes vote, they will legislate for abortion up to 12 weeks, or in certain circumstances, such as risk to the life of the mother, or fatal foetal abnormality - but No campaigners believe this to be too vague.

Speaking at an event organised by Together For Yes, Professor Fiona De Londras from University of Birmingham said that "in terms of grounds, time limits and process, what is proposed in Ireland could under no circumstances be described as unrestricted abortion," the Irish Times reports.

At an event last night held by the Love Both group, anti-abortion campaigners decried the 'misinformation' from the Repeal side around what health minister Simon Harris is proposing in his legislation.

Margaret Atwood shares satirical Handmaid's Tale story

A story from Irish satirical website Waterford Whispers News went viral yesterday, claiming that Irish women were watching The Handmaid's Tale to 'escape grim reality' and 'to distract themselves from the daily grind of Irish life'.

Today, the author of the classic dystopian novel Margaret Atwood tweeted the story, much to the amusement of Irish Twitter - and the delight of Yes campaigners.

Fianna Fail divided over referendum

Fianna Fail, one of Ireland's two main parties, is divided over the abortion referendum. 31 of the party's TDs and Senators posed for this photograph yesterday, showing their opposition to repealing the eighth. This means over half of the parliamentary party are supporting a No vote.

While neither Fianna Fail nor Fine Gael are advocating official positions, a vast majority of Fine Gael TDs and Senators are supporting a Yes vote, meaning Fianna Fail are the only party with such an obvious division. Both Sinn Fein and Labour are officially backing Yes.

Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin sparked controversy when he initially announced he was against repealing the eighth, before changing his mind and voicing his support for it in January. Many commentators have suggested this week's photo call was the thinly veiled beginnings of a leadership challenge to Martin.

Fine Gael are currently the ruling party in government, but they rely upon Fianna Fail for a confidence and supply arrangement that is expected to expire at some point this year. The party may seek to replace Martin as leader before contesting the impending general election.

Latest poll shows gap closing between Yes and No

A new poll today shows the Yes campaign on 45% and the No campaign on 34%, with 18% still undecided.

The Millward Brown poll, published in the Sunday Independent in Ireland shows the Yes campaign holding its lead, but it continues to diminish in each published poll, while the No campaign makes gains. Undecideds still make up for almost a fifth and could be crucial in deciding the result.

The poll also noticed a strong urban-rural divide, with 51% in favour of repeal in Dublin, while only 37% were in Connacht/Ulster.

Commentators have noted how difficult it is looking for the Yes side to get over the 50% line.

In 2015, during the same sex marriage referendum, it was noted that many of those who said they were 'Undecided' at this point in the campaign ultimately became No voters (as outlined below). If this trend is repeated this year, the No side will win.