“A 90-year-old man broke down in tears and said, ‘It’s too late for me now. But I wish you all well and I’ll certainly be voting yes.’”
Paul Faith / Getty Images
The opinion polls point to a victory for the Yes Equality campaign, but within the campaign itself, tension remains high.
At the campaign's headquarters in central Dublin yesterday, dozens of organisers worked frantically to secure victory. As activists darted in and out, phones ringing, stress and exhaustion visible on volunteers' faces, constituency coordinator Eimear O'Reilly admitted that there was still concern about voter turnout, particularly among young people.
"We feel we can't be complacent," she told BuzzFeed News. "We felt that way all along. Over 65,000 people have newly registered to vote, for the first time, which is hugely significant. But we have to drive voter turnout. That's the only way we'll win this."
Despite this anxiety, she said, excitement was also brewing in the Yes camp as all the signs, from opinion polls to responses to canvassers, suggested a win.
"I'm overwhelmed by the amount of support we've had. You can see it on the street; it's visible in towns and villages all across Ireland. Businesses are putting up Yes Equality posters. People are wearing badges – badges have come back into fashion!"
Patrick Strudwick / BuzzFeed