Ireland abortion referendum: close result expected in historic vote

Taoiseach says he is 'quietly confident' as Ireland goes to the polls after hard-fought campaigns by both sides

The people of Ireland are voting on Friday in a historic referendum on whether to repeal or retain a constitutional clause protecting the rights of the unborn that has produced one of the most restrictive abortion regimes in the world.

Polling stations across Ireland opened at 7am and close at 10pm. At 6.55am in Dublin, voters were already waiting in the entrance of Our Lady's Clonskeagh Parish secondary school.