Shock and awe. We react to the repeal of the 8th Amendment.

It took 24 hours for the result to really sink in. A landslide yes to end Ireland’s near-total abortion ban. It was so unexpected, the reaction of many was shock.

“We’re just blown away by the landslide,” one woman told The Irish Passport podcast as she absorbed the result in Dublin Castle. “It’s like living in a new Ireland.”

“I’m kind of astounded,” said an older man who voted No. “I thought it would be tighter.”

Myself and Tim McInerney of The Irish Passport podcast decided to record our first conversation digesting the results. It’s our raw reaction to the history we witnessed. We ask what the result tells us about Ireland, where we were when we heard it, and whether ‘the North is next’.

You can listen now in the latest episode of The Irish Passport podcast.

Fantastic wrap up of the #8thAmendment referendum from @NaomiOhReally and @TimMacAndErny on @PassportIrish, including the emotion, shock and relief as results came in, and what happens next to actually #RepealThe8th https://t.co/X6mjnFROEd

— Clare Murphy (@ClareAliceMurph) June 1, 2018

https://twitter.com/KevinSharpe59/status/1001453467473469440

Just having a little cry listening to @PassportIrish on the way to work this morning #RepealedThe8th Feeling the wave of pride, relief & gratitude all over again… pic.twitter.com/RKig1l3Cpx

— Emma Walsh (@walshie_writes) May 29, 2018

Naomi O Leary

Irish journalist and host of The Irish Passport podcast on Irish culture, history and politics.