On May 25, Ireland will have a chance to make history, voting in the referendum to repeal the 8th amendment, which reflects some of the strictest abortion laws in the world.
Saoirse Ronan, the star of Lady Bird and basically one of the most famous Irish people in the world, has voiced her support for a ‘yes’ vote, which would see pregnant people have the ability to access free, safe, legal abortion in Ireland for up to 12 weeks.
“I’m fully in support of a ‘yes’ vote,” Ronan said in an interview on Lorraine today (May 15). “A lot of people I know are. There’s so many women everyday that have to travel abroad mainly to the UK to have an abortion, and what this will do is just give women the choice and full ownership over their own body.”
She continued: “The youth, especially of Ireland, are incredible and we’re so forward-thinking. I think since the marriage referendum a few years ago, that has given us such a great push in the right direction, and I do believe we’ll make the right choice so go out and vote!”
The vote will take place on May 25 – in the run up to the referendum, we’ve witnessed a vibrant, strong campaign to repeal the draconic abortion laws. The laws currently enshrined in the Irish constitution mean that pregnant people are unable to access terminations and surrounding healthcare even in cases of rape and incest. Between 9 and 12 women travel from Ireland every day to access abortion.
Ronan was also part of the powerful open letter in a Together for Yes campaign video, where Irish musicians, actors, and celebrities called upon the Irish voters to choose yes in the referendum. Also included was Cillian Murphy, Emmet Kirwan, Aisling Bea, Liam Cunningham, and more,
Dazed is currently running the ‘Ireland Unfree’ mini-series, documenting the vital work, creativity, protest, and conversations had in the fight for body autonomy. Check out the first piece, on diversity and inclusivity in the repeal movement, here.