Referendum resolved

Published Friday, 01 June 2012
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In end it was much more comfortable than even the most optimistic could have imagined. The high number of don't knows in recent opinion polls led to nerves right up to when the ballot boxes closed.

They didn't need to worry. The Irish middle-classes might not have liked it but they held their noses and voted Yes.

The No campaign did poll strongly in working class areas but it was not enough.

Yet it was a good campaign for Sinn Féin. The party was up to 24% in last weekend's opinion polls and took on the major role on the No side.

On the steps of Government Buildings, Enda Kenny said he did not go head to head with Gerry Adams during the campaign because he did not want to give the Sinn Féin leader the leader of the opposition role.

That was significant. It shows just how important Sinn Féin has become in Irish politics.

So, while there will be a sigh of relief in Government and in Fianna Fáil, there will also be an awareness Sinn Féin is growing stronger.

Elsewhere in Europe there will be toasts to Enda Kenny and the Irish people.

For now anyway!

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Ken Reid
Ken Reid

Ken Reid is Political Editor at UTV. His career as a journalist began at The News Letter in 1977, where he remained for seven years. This was followed by stints as the sports editor, and later editor, of the Sunday News, and reporting for the Cork Examiner.

Ken joined UTV in 1994. He says one of his most memorable moments was breaking the Ian Paisley retirement story in 2008.

He's a big fan of rugby (Ballymena to be precise), cricket and football (Everton FC) and loves music, especially blues.

His favourite motto is Everton FC's: "Nil satis nisi optimum"... Only the best is good enough.

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