"By a margin of 0.6%, the Irish public voted to legalise divorce, ending a constitutional ban that had stood since 1937. For many, it was a moment of long-awaited progress. For others, it was the breaking point in a bitter national argument that pitted tradition against modernity. The campaign was divisive, personal, and often fraught. The Catholic Church warned of social collapse; campaigners on the Yes side argued that tens of thousands were trapped in broken marriages with no legal way to rebuild their lives."
"And in the background, a rapidly shifting Ireland, shaped by EU influence, economic change, and growing scrutiny of Church authority, was beginning to assert a new identity. The result came down to just 9,114 votes. Some still say a wet day in the west and a dry day in Dublin made all the difference. Thirty years on, with divorce rates still among the lowest in Europe, what did that razor-thin referendum really change?"
In 1995 the Irish public voted by 0.6% to legalise divorce, ending a constitutional ban that had stood since 1937. The referendum exposed deep social divisions, with the Catholic Church warning of social collapse while Yes campaigners argued that tens of thousands were trapped in broken marriages without legal recourse. The campaign was personal and bitter amid a rapidly changing Ireland influenced by the EU, economic transformation, and growing scrutiny of Church authority. The result hinged on 9,114 votes and local weather was later blamed by some for swaying turnout. Thirty years on, divorce rates remain low and questions persist about the referendum's long-term societal impact.
#1995-irish-divorce-referendum #constitutional-change #catholic-church-influence #social-modernization
Read at Irish Independent
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