ARAN ISLANDERS cast their votes in the Lisbon Treaty referendum yesterday, but with a warning that they want to vote with the rest of the State next time. There was also voting on other smaller islands off the west coast.
Early indications were of a low turnout on the three Aran Islands, where a mid-morning appeal for a Yes vote was issued by Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív. Mr Ó Cuív travelled to Inis Mór, the largest of the three islands. Up to 1,200 people are entitled to vote on the Aran Islands and Inishbofin off the Connemara coast. The Mayo islands of Clare, Inishturk and Inishbiggle also had early voting.
Inis Mór resident Seamus Ó Flatharta said the practice of early voting meant offshore voters were being treated as second-class citizens. “They should give us the same time to make up our minds as everyone else,” he said.
The Department of the Environment said it would have “no problem” with all 3,000 island residents voting on the same day as the rest of the electorate, but that such decisions were taken by individual returning officers.