There's only one hashtag you should search through on Twitter today: #hometovote. The Irish diaspora is mobilising by travelling thousands of miles to return to Ireland to vote in the abortion referendum. And they are tweeting about their journeys using the hashtag.
The tweets make for very moving reading indeed. Prepare yourself: you might just shed the odd tear while reading these people's inspiring efforts to make it home in time to vote.
On 25 May, people in Ireland will cast their votes to decide whether the 8th amendment of the country's constitution—which currently makes abortion illegal in almost all cases— will be repealed.
Twitter user Lauryn Canny wrote that she was travelling more than 5,000 miles from Los Angeles to Dublin in order to vote on 25 May. Canny wrote that she was "thinking of every Irish woman who has had to travel to access health care that should be available in their own country."
It's estimated that more than 150,000 women in Ireland have had to make journeys overseas to gain access to abortion services since the 8th amendment went into effect in 1983.
Another Twitter user tweeted a photo at Hanoi airport in Vietnam holding up a "repeal" sign as she waited to board her 20-hour flight home. She wrote that the flight cost her €800 (£700, $937).
Cost of flights from Hanoi to Dublin: 800 euro. Length of journey: 20 hours. Chance to #repealthe8th: PRICELESS. #hometovote #Together4Yes pic.twitter.com/oROnKcBXcF
— the cute hoor (@HoorayForNiamh) May 22, 2018
When she got off the plane from Hanoi, her parents were there to greet her with a 'Repeal' sweater.
So I forgot my repeal jumper when I first started my travels in January and now my mam and dad are after showing up at Dublin airport with the jumper in hand and I just 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 #HomeToVote #Together4Yes #repealthe8th #VietnamToIreland pic.twitter.com/lJ7yGvg5YO
— the cute hoor (@HoorayForNiamh) May 23, 2018
Another woman shared that she had travelled from Queensland, Australia, to Dublin in order to vote.
#hometovote from Queensland to Dublin. Arrived in today and worth it. Drinking Lyons tea at 5am with jetlag. #repealthe8th #togetherforyes #hometovote #trustwomen #8thref pic.twitter.com/oWEzpfIkWk
— Siobhan Gilroy (@shiv_gilroy) May 23, 2018
Others tweeted about the sights they witnessed at airports around the world. Becky Ann Leeman said she spotted around 35 young women waiting in the baggage reclaim area at Dublin Airport after travelling from Sydney, Australia.
There are about 35 young gals, most of them on their own, waiting for bags from my flight to Dublin from Sydney ❤❤❤ #hometovote
— becky ann leeman (@foreveralowen) May 18, 2018
Author Louise O'Neill tweeted that she had sponsored another woman's flight back so she could vote in the referendum.
I sponsored someone’s flights so she could come #HomeToVote and I’m now sitting on my hands because all I want to do is message her “are you home yet? Are you home yet? ARE YOU HOME YET?”
— Louise O' Neill (@oneilllo) May 23, 2018
Steve Wilson said he'd travelled for a total of 27.5 hours to make it back in time to cast his yes vote in the hope of repealing the 8th amendment.
1) Newcastle to Sydney Airport on 2 trains -3 hours
2)Plane to Abu Dhabi -16 hours
3) Plane to Ireland -8.5 hours
Repealing the 8th Amendment? Priceless.
(Step 1 almost complete) #Together4YES #menforyes #HomeToVote #hometoveote #repealThe8th pic.twitter.com/tsG4Bh57n2— Steve Wilson (@Dublinactor) May 23, 2018
Ciaran Gaffney travelled 13 hours from Buenos Aires to London before flying across the pond to Dublin. "No one here knows why I'm travelling. If this feels isolating for me, can't imagine how lonely it must be 4 her, travelling 2 the UK," wrote Gaffney, referring to women who travel to England to have abortions.
Boarding a 13 hour flight from Buenos Aires to London. London to Dublin tomorrow. No one at airport knows what my repeal jumper means. No one here knows why I'm travelling. If this feels isolating for me, can't imagine how lonely it must be 4 her, travelling 2 the UK #HomeToVote
— Ciaran Gaffney (@gaffneyciaran) May 22, 2018
Parents of grownup children flying home to Ireland to cast their votes tweeted with pride at the great efforts their kids had gone to.
Noeleen McHugh posted a moving tweet about her eldest son, who was granted the right to get married in 2015 when Ireland legalised same sex marriage. "On Friday he'll return the favour and vote to give women the right to make decisions about their own bodies," wrote McHugh.
Just collected eldest son from Dublin Airport. In 2015 Ireland gave him his right - the right to get married.
On Friday he’ll return the favour and vote to give women the right to make decisions about their own bodies. #Together4Yes #hometovote #soproud— Noeleen McHugh (@MchughNoeleen) May 23, 2018
Twitter user Colette Kelleher tweeted that her son, who's a student, used his birthday money to buy a ticket home to Ireland.
My lovely son is coming #hometovote. This poor student used his birthday money to buy plane ticket home. Just messaged me "we will get you to the Emerald City on Friday" ❤️ He will #voteyes with his Dad. For his sister, his Mum & women of Ireland #togetherforyes @Men4Yes
— Colette Kelleher (@ColetteKelleher) May 22, 2018
Chris Coyle tweeted that his daughter was making a transatlantic journey and taking time off work without pay in oder to cast her yes vote.
In about 24 hours our brilliant daughter gets off work early to begin the transatlantic #hometovote voyage. Taking leave without pay on Friday, and heading back on Saturday morning. One of SO many YES voters doing this. It's up to the rest of us to #getoutandvote #RepealThe8th
— Chris Coyle (@iaintgonnagoa) May 23, 2018
Kudos to these incredibly inspiring people.
Original Article : HERE ; This post was curated & posted using : RealSpecific
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Original Post Here: Irish people are using the #HomeToVote hashtag to share how far they’ve travelled for the abortion vote
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Irish people are using the #HomeToVote hashtag to share how far they’ve travelled for the abortion vote was originally posted by Viral News 2
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