IRELAND looks set to become the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage by popular vote.
According to early figures, yesterday's referendum appears to be a landslide victory for the yes side.
Voter turnout was the highest Ireland has ever seen for a referendum - with people on both sides canvassing up to the last minute.
Dublin county's early figures show a 70 per cent majority in favour of the yes vote, while Cork North West, the constituency with the most narrow majority in the 1996 divorce referendum, has a 53 per cent majority on the yes wide.
Meanwhile, the second referendum on lowering the minimum age for the presidency of Ireland from 35 to 21 looks set to be defeated.
