Early Lisbon tallies suggest ‘No’ victory

Counting of votes in the Lisbon Treaty referendum began at 9am today, and early tallies show the vote leaning toward the ‘No’ side.

Across Dublin there is a reported 60%-40% split in favour of the ‘No’ side in those constituencies available so far.

In Mayo, the vote also appears to be 60%-40% per cent in favour of the ‘No ‘camp with the majority of boxes now counted.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and the party’s MEP Jim Higgins are reported to have conceded that the ‘No’ campaign have won in Mayo.

In Tipperary, tallies show a 50%-50% split in both constituencies. However, Limerick West, another largely rural area, was indicating a 59%-41% split in favour of a ‘No’ vote.

In the northwest region, Initial tally figures from Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal suggest a ‘No’ vote of between 55% and 65%.

In Galway West, early tallies are 56% No, while Galway East is split evenly on the tallies.

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Eamon O Cuiv is conceding defeat for the treaty in Galway West.

In Louth, the tally split was reported to be a 57%-43% in favour of ‘No’. In Meath, the split again shows a 60%-40% percentage advantage to anti-Treaty forces in both constituencies.

The tallies indicate there has been a strong ‘No’ showing in working-class urban areas and some rural areas, while there appears to be less support for the treaty in middle-class urban areas than had been expected.

Both Kildare constituencies appear to be bucking the trend, however, with early tallies indicating a 57%-43% ‘Yes’ vote in favour of Lisbon.

The tallies are early at the moment, however, and all boxes are not opened yet. Nevertheless, hopes are clealy rising among ‘No’ campaigners.

Actual results should begin to be available by the early afternoon.

Urgent Appeal