Opinion
23 May 18

REPEAL THE 8th: COMING HOME FOR A YES VOTE

The referendum on the 8th Amendment to the Constitution of Ireland takes place on Friday, May 25th. During the final week of the campaign, Hot Press is bringing you Home for Yes , a series of interviews with Irish emigrants scattered around the globe, who are returning to their native soil to Vote Yes. From Japan to Canada, England to America, we meet the heroes, who are travelling from far and wide in the name of social and political change. We salute them, and wish them Bon Voyage. See you in Ireland!

Up next in our series is Motion Graphic Designer Mark Gilligan, 30, London

Why did you decide to emigrate ?

"I choose to come over to London for work mainly. I work as a motion graphic designer and there are just a lot more opportunities for work here at the moment."

How does Ireland compare to London?

"Ireland wins, always...but its obviously not perfect. My experience in Dublin as a male is clearly very different to that of my female friends which is one of the reasons why this vote is so important."

Why are you coming home to vote?

"I am coming home to support all my female friends and family who have had to/may have to struggle unnecessarily with this decision. This referendum provides an opportunity for us to guarantee safer health care for all women in Ireland.

Irish women are going to get abortions no matter what the law states, which we have been seeing for years anyway, by voting yes we can hold the Irish government accountable and assure they provide a full range of services for all women, regardless of their decision. "

Have you always been Pro-choice?

"Yes."

For the duration of the campaign, Hot Press will feature more emigrants on their monumental journey home to Repeal the 8th!