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the marriage ref

22 Twitter accounts you should be following in the run up to the same-sex vote

Probably the only list you’ll read today that begins with David Quinn and ends with The Rubberbandits.

WE’RE NOW JUST weeks away from polling day.

On 22 May, Irish voters will be asked whether or not we want to extend civil marriage rights to same-sex couples.

The campaign has stepped up a gear in the last week – with a number of political parties holding their launches, rows about posters being removed or defaced, and a number of heated radio debates.

So – who should we be keeping track of on social media, as the debate heats up, ahead of polling day?

Here’s our take…

Campaigners & journalists

The Iona Institute founder is an assiduous Tweeter – check in on him anytime someone from the Yes side pops up on radio or TV.

Meanwhile, you can be pretty much guaranteed that the alter-ego of Rory O’Neill will have something to say whenever David Quinn or one of his fellow No campaigners makes a media appearance.

The activist, Amnesty Ireland Director and One in Four founder is on Twitter pretty much non-stop.

From the Iona Institute-backed Mothers and Fathers Matter group.

The Editor of weekly newspaper The Irish Catholic.

The Irish Times columnist and author of ‘In The Name of Love’ – a book on the campaign for same-sex marriage in Ireland.

Politicians

The Cork TD founded the Fine Gael LGBT group – and has been one of the party’s main activists on the issue.

The veteran campaigner doesn’t Tweet all that often – but when he does, it’s generally pretty entertaining.

The conservative senator has been doing most of the running for the No side in the Oireachtas.

The Fianna Fáil senator has been an outspoken critic of some of the No campaign’s tactics.

The Sinn Féin councillor regularly tweets articles and other material you might not otherwise stumble upon.

Labour TDs Ciara Conway and John Lyons have both been busy on the campaign trail.

The Referendum Commission

They give factual independent information. So there.

Campaign groups

The umbrella Yes group is backed by the likes of GLEN and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.

They regularly retweet messages from other Yes groups too.

Originally set up to oppose the Children and Family Relationships Bill – Mothers and Fathers Matter has been the main group opposing the constitutional change.

Regular videos and No side arguments.

Celebrities

Observations and opinions from the London-based Irish comedian.

The recently-retired rugby great made quite an impact with this Tweet.

Music’s man of the moment has been regularly tweeting Yes messages to his 300,000 or so followers.

The actress and comedian took to the recording studio this week to make her views known.

For observations about swans, drugs, Willie O’Dea – oh, and the referendum.

(NOTE: It’s worth pointing out here that Senator Ronan Mullen recently observed that there isn’t a celebrity in the country who would publicly call for a No vote.)

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