DUBLIN CASTLE COURTYARD will be open to the public tomorrow, however, there are no plans at the moment to install a large screen or a stage.
There have been calls today for referendum campaigners to be allowed gather in the courtyard for the count results.
In 2015, large crowds congregated in the space for the Marriage Equality count results.
Labour Party representative for Dublin South Central, councillor Rebecca Moynihan, earlier called on the OPW to have the grounds of Dublin Castle open to the public on results day.
“I have written to Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran calling on him to open up Dublin Castle on Saturday to allow all those who have given so much to this campaign to congregate.
“Access should be open to the Upper Yard of Dublin Castle, and the results of the referendum as they come in should be shown on a large screen, as it was three years ago for the marriage equality results day.”
She said that regardless of the result, many people have contributed to the referendum campaign and should have a space to congregate.
“Whether they are seasoned campaigners, or new activists, should be allowed to come together at the official announcement as they did for marriage equality,” she said, adding:
This has been a long campaign, thirty-five years in the making. It has ignited a new sense of activism among young people in our country. I think it is appropriate for Dublin Castle to be open to as many that want to attend, rather than just the select few who were randomly allocated tickets and accredited media.
TheJournal.ie has been told the yard will be open to the public, but there will only be small podiums for media use. There are no plans at the moment to install a large screen or a stage.
That said, on count day for the Marriage Equality referendum in 2015 it was a somewhat last-minute decision to put those arrangements in place, so it is possible this could change tomorrow.
The scene at Dublin Castle this evening shows that tents for the media have been erected, as have crowd barriers.
A spokesperson for the Love Both campaign said that as of yet, there are no plans for the No side to congregate in the courtyard or any particular area in Dublin city.
Officially, there was no comment from the Together For Yes group on whether they plan to encourage supporters to gather at Dublin Castle.
- With reporting by Michelle Hennessy
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