It’s a pity Mary McAleese didn’t air her views on Presidential age

Perhaps an acute apprehension prompted former President Mary McAleese to disclose her intended vote in the marriage referendum, notwithstanding the consistent backing for this proposition in opinion polls (‘We must back marriage equality poll’, Irish Examiner, April 14).

After all, opinion polls about voting intentions, prior to the abolition of Seanad Éireann, suggested that a ‘yes’ vote of 64% was assured, but the electorate rejected that proposition by 51% to 48%.

Furthermore, five of the last 10 referenda proposals have been rejected by the electorate, notwithstanding opinion polling and loud, populist cheerleading.