East: Meath, Louth and Kildare strongly support same-sex marriage

All the eastern counties have voted in favour of the amendment on same-sex marriage. This is how it played out in the counties:

Meath:

“It was about more than just marriage - it was about it being ok to be gay,” as Meath voters said Yes to same sex marriage by over 60 per cent across the county.

A total of 74,113 valid papers were counted in two centres - Ashbourne in Meath East and Trim in Meath West - from early Saturday.

Meath West was first in with their vote that resulted in 60.1 per cent in favour as just over half of the eligible 63,649 voters turned out to poll (35,821).

Over in Meath East, the Yes vote was higher when a turnout of 59.68 per cent led to a Yes vote of 63.6 per cent.

Here 24,525 out of the 38,767 voted in favour of the referendum. The results closely mirrored earlier tally figures that saw an urban/rural divide emerging and this was clearer in North

Meath where the result was much closer. The Yes vote evoked many smiles at the count centre in Meath West where local Fine Gael TD remarked: "This was about more than just marriage - it was about it being ok to be gay.

"It's a good story for Ireland." Louise Walsh

Louth:

In Louth the Yes vote was 63.46 per cent and the No side was 36.54 per on turnout of almost 60 per cent.

Kildare:

In Kildare the Yes vote was 69.67 per cent and while those opposed were 30.33 per cent on turnout of almost 62 per cent.