Count Ref-ula: Bat interrupts referendum counting in Limerick
Was In Limerick On A Bat The Count Saturday Centre Discovered At
Things went a bit bat-crazy as the referendum vote was being counted in Limerick with a flying mammal was discovered on Saturday.
The bat, christened Count Ref-ula by counting staff in reference to the referenda, was discovered behind a door at the Limerick Racecourse as counting staff were opening 288 ballot boxes and sorting through votes.
One of the counting staff, Laurence Callaghan, had the unenviable task of removing this bat from the count centre.
It comes as counting has been taking place across the country after the public went to the polls on Friday to vote on whether to change the wording of the Constitution relating to the areas of family and care.
Results for both will be announced separately later on Saturday.
There was a low turnout reported throughout the day, with some areas understood to be less than 30% of registered voters.
There was a slight uplift at polling stations as people made their home on Friday evening, however it is thought that numbers remained lower compared to previous referenda.
The two questions will be counted separately, with both results expected to be declared at Dublin Castle by Saturday evening.
The family amendment will be counted and declared first.
The turnout in Limerick City was 43.2% and 42.9% in Limerick County.
Early indications show a significant no vote in many areas across the country, suggesting both referenda could be defeated. Tallies are so far based on a small number of boxes and are patchy in places.
It comes as Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has conceded that the Government has lost the twin referenda to change the Constitution.