Ireland gay marriage referendum: Early count indicators predict win for Yes campaign

Ireland looks set to make history as early indicators in the gay marriage referendum suggest the Yes campaign will triumph.

A majority Yes vote would see Ireland become the first country in the world to introduce gay marriage by popular vote.

With counting of ballots only beginning at 9am, early patterns from count centres suggested that the campaign to extend the right to marry to same-sex couples will succeed.

A high voter turnout was recorded in all regions, particularly in urban areas, with a huge youth vote and returning emigrants heavily influencing the ballot.

In Dublin the result was expected to be a landslide in favour of gay marriage while in many other parts of the country the constitutional amendment was expected to be passed by about two to one.

John Murray, director of the Iona Institute religious think-tank, one of the leading groups fighting the reform, accepted the result was going in favour of the reform.

"Obviously I'd be disappointed in that. We did our best to fight a good campaign and if having run that we haven't won it, we did our best," he said.

"Everyone is saying it is Yes and I'm not going to argue with that."

An official result is expected some time in the afternoon but if tallies from the 27 count centres in 43 constituencies continue the same pattern seen in the first hour, campaigners will be calling it much earlier.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin told RTE Radio that he was confident the result would see the introduction of gay marriage.

"I think it was a debate that captured the imagination and I had a strong sense that the Yes vote would win," he said. "I think that will be borne out today."

Results from the constituencies will be fed back to the count headquarters in Dublin Castle, where about 2,000 people are expected to gather in the upper courtyard to mark the day.

It is only 22 years since Ireland decriminalised homosexuality.

Voters were asked one simple, specific question on whether to amend Article 41 of the 1937 Constitution by adding a new clause to a section titled The Family.