Ulster’s two constituencies recorded the most resounding rejection of amending the Republic’s constitution in Friday’s family and care referenda.
Donegal preserved its status as the Republic’s most conservative county, with 80.2% rejecting the 39th, otherwise known as ‘the family’ amendment, while 84% voted no in the ‘care’ referendum.
The county was the only constituency to vote against repealing the eighth amendment in 2018.
The Cavan-Monaghan constituency was just behind Donegal, with 78.1% voting no in the family referendum, while 81.3% rejected the 40th amendment.
Countrywide, it was a resounding defeat for the Irish Government in both polls.
Less than one-in-three voters (32.3%) backed change in the family referendum, with just over one million people (67.7%) voting no.
The care referendum, otherwise known as the 40th amendment, produced an even more significant loss for the government, with 73.9% nationally voting no, to 26.1% voting yes.
Just under 3.5 million people turned out to vote on Friday.
Dún Laoghaire was the only constituency in the republic to vote in favour of changing the constitution.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it was clear that both amendments had been defeated and “defeated comprehensively on a respectable turnout”.
