Daniel O'Donnell: 'I'm voting 'Yes' in marriage referendum'

The famed Irish singer Daniel O’Donnell has said he’ll be voting Yes in Ireland’s upcoming same sex marriage referendum, arguing that everyone should be equal.

Speaking on RTE Radio this afternoon (May 15), the 53-year-old from County Donegal said: “I think everyone should be equal,” adding, “I can’t see what a Yes vote is going to do against anybody.” The singer says he “genuinely” believes in equality. O’Donnell himself married his wife Majella in 2002.

“I just feel we’re discriminating against a lot of people who feel their lives would be better. I can’t see anything on the other side that will be detrimental. All of the people who know they’re talking about are telling us that it’s absolutely no difference who brings up the children, as love as they’re brought up in a loving environment.” He added, “I was brought up without a father. My father died before I knew the benefit of a father. It was just my mother.”

O’Donnell is knowing internationally for his mum-friendly mix of country and Irish folk, which has sold him 10 million albums worldwide, and made him something of a national treasure in Ireland. We can only hope this ringing endorsement will help sway the votes of a few of his more senior fans.

Meanwhile, a top Irish Gaelic footballer has written an open letter saying he’ll be voting against equal marriage, but insists it’s “not homophobic” to do so – find out more here.

While polls have indicated that 75 percent of the Irish public support the ‘Yes’ campaign, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny warned voters yesterday that the final vote “will be much closer than original polls indicated.”

The Taoiseach’s comments come in the same week an Irish Independent article warned of the growing ‘Silent No’ who could leave the vote in a shock defeat; not dissimilar to how incorrect polls, and ‘shy Tories’ caused a shock result in the UK general election last week.

Daniel O’Donnell: ‘I’m voting ‘Yes’ in marriage referendum’

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