irishstee's blog

The irishstee's blog

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Dragonfly Jun 6, 2015: Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond with few disturbances and interruptions. Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at the top. When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.

So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never known existed. Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended. But, his new body would not go down into the water. He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life!; Points: 15 3 comments
Ireland said yes! (On Saturday) May 27, 2015: The official result for the marriage equality referendum was declared at Dublin Castle shortly before 7pm this evening, with the final tally ending up 62.1 pc Yes against 37.9 pc No.

In total, almost two million people voted.

The number of Yes votes cast was 1,201,607, with 734,300 No.
Some 13,818 votes were marked as invalid and so were not counted towards the final result.

Over all, the Yes vote secured a 467,307 majority.

Large crowds have gathered at Dublin Castle to celebrate the resounding Yes.

Speaking after the official result was announced, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Ireland had made history today.

"Our people have truly answered Ireland's call... we have made history."

Adding: "Those who voted no did so due to genuine held views which should be respected."

Meanwhile, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin called the Yes result a "reality check" for the Catholic Church in Ireland.

“I think it’s a social revolution. It’s a social revolution that didn’t begin today, it’s a social revolution that’s been going on, and perhaps people in the church have not been clear in their understanding of what that involves," he said.

The hashtag 'We Made History' trended on Twitter as elated Irish people took to social media to express their delight at the official result.
Based on a final poll of 1,949,725, more people voted in the same-sex marriage referendum than in any other since the foundation of the State.

The first official constituency result was declared in Sligo-North Leitrim with 53.57 pc voting Yes.

Only Roscommon-South Leitrim voted No.

The results there saw voters reject marriage equality by 51 pc to 49 pc.

The tightest margin was in Donegal South West where it was Yes by only 33 votes.

Top Ten Yes Constituencies; Points: 0 0 comments
The Lake Isle of Innisfree May 26, 2015: I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.; Points: 14 2 comments