Jane Cowan: ‘Yes vote describes the Ireland of 2024'

On March 8, the country is being asked to vote in two referendums to change Article 41 of our Constitution. The first is concerning the concept of family, and the second, whether to delete existing language and insert new wording to provide recognition for care provided by family members. Esther N McCarthy asks five writers to share their views, and explain which boxes they’ll be ticking on Friday — and why.

Examiner columnist Jane Cowan.Photo: Barry Cronin

I remember the marriage-equality referendum in 2015. I wasn’t old enough to vote in it, but seeing the impact of it was a powerful thing. There was so much joy in that referendum passing. It brought the Constitution closer to a place where it needed to be: Representative of Ireland and its citizens. I hope, on March 8, that we achieve something similar. 

I’ve got my voting card at the ready, for my first trip to a polling station as someone with the right to vote. It’s an exciting thing to experience for the first time. I’ll be voting ‘yes’ in both referenda.