A reversal of the results of the first Nice referendum in both constituencies in Kerry was apparent from the first opening of boxes at the count centres in Tralee and Killarney with a majority of boxes tallied showing a clear Yes majority.
Kerry North had returned the highest No vote of any rural constituency in Ireland and at 60.6 per cent No last time, was second only to Dublin South West.
Sinn Féin TD Mr Martin Ferris attributed the 55.6 per cent Yes this time to "a massive campaign by government and organisations and all the establishment". Sinn Féin in Kerry North had run the same campaign with leaflets and posters as a year ago, he said.
Mr Ferris was not surprised by the Yes result. "A lot of people were made to think they would prevent enlargement. The people made their decision. We have to respect that decision. The debate was far more balanced this time."
Mr Denis O'Connor and Mr Michael Reidy of the Kerry No to Nice campaign in the constituency said they would be commenting to some media but not to others.
They would not comment to The Irish Times, Mr O'Connor said. They felt the paper did not give balanced coverage to the No campaign in Kerry and elsewhere.
Mr Jimmy Deenihan TD, Fine Gael, said the Yes result was down to the public's clearer understanding of the issues this time. "The Government was less ambiguous. Last time, ministers advocated a No vote to keep all sides of the electorate on side. On this occasion, they realised national and international interests were at stake."
The result sent out the right signals to the rest of Europe, he said.
The reversal of the last Nice result "goes to show what can be achieved when we have no party haggling", said Ms Maria Gorman, Listowel town councillor and Fianna Fáil's director of elections in Kerry North at the general election.
Fianna Fáil ran a strong campaign, Mr Thomas McEllistrim TD said. The major factor was the turnout, he felt. "Last time around we had a 32.7 per cent turnout; this time 45.5 per cent voted . . . If it had remained in the thirties, it would have been lost."
Ms Norma Foley, Tralee town councillor (FF) had run a personalised leaflet campaign for a Yes vote stressing the decision was "vital" to the interests of Ireland.
In Kerry South where 60.5 per cent voted Yes as against just under 45 per cent at the time of the last referendum, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, claimed the lion's share of the credit for Fianna Fáil for securing the turnaround.
"The Fianna Fáil organisation were the only people canvassing actively in this constituency for a Yes vote. At best, Fine Gael and Labour voters received little or no leadership which is best illustrated by the fact that no other deputies bothered to turn up at the count centre here today," he said at the count centre in Killarney.