Ann and Jim find time to vote on big day

LONG-TIME sweethearts, Ann McCarthy and Jim Kennedy, had no sooner said “I do” and signed the parish register yesterday than they were off to the community centre to make their mark once more.

The couple took time out of a hectic wedding day to cast their vote in the local and European elections and the referendum yesterday afternoon.

As soon as they exchanged vows at St Patrick’s Parish Church, Faugheen, in Tipperary, they made the quick hop, skip and run to the vote centre.

“I met Ann on her 21st. I rushed into marrying her after 15 years. It’s great that both of us got a chance to vote on such an important day for us both,” Jim Kennedy said as he came out of the vote centre.

“I met Ann on her birthday so it is fitting that we would get married today, again on her birthday. She’s 36 today. We planned the wedding to coincide with her birthday,” the 41- year-old groom said.

Teresa Hanlon was taking no chances. Before she married Brendan Sheridan, Teresa hitched up the train on her halterneck dress and went into Boher national school to cast her ballot.

“I am a wee bit nervous but not as much as some of the politicians might be,” she said before her big day.

A combination of an early start and fine weather meant voting was brisk at polling stations throughout the country. Some 44 candidates are vying for 13 European Parliament seats while 1,627 local council seats are for the taking nationwide.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern kicked off the voting, being one of the first to hit the polls just two hours after returning from the G8 summit in the US state of Georgia.

As he cast his vote at Drumcondra National School, Dublin, he urged people to exercise their democratic rights as the decision would impact on them for years to come.

The mainopposition parties were confident of a rise in support and were predicting a significant slump for the Government.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte was in jovial spirits as he cast his vote in Clondalkin, west Dublin.

He said he was encouraged by the unusually brisk turn-out reported by staff at the centre, and said he was looking forward to the results. “I think people have been waiting a long time to exercise this particular ballot,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams travelled to Dublin to be alongside MEP candidate Mary Lou McDonald as she cast her vote in Castleknock, west Dublin.

He said: “To win any seat here would be huge, and to win a seat in the North and the South would be mighty.”

The result of the referendum on citizenship will be announced on Saturday evening, as will local government results. European Parliament results will be counted and declared on Sunday, but could continue into Monday.