Divorce in Ireland: An analysis of the referendum to amend the Constitution, June 1986

Abstract

On June 26th, 1986 a referendum was held on the question of allowing for divorce legislation to be introduced in the Republic of Ireland. This motion was defeated. In a society with 72,000 people directly involved in situations of marital breakdown, this result was a surprise to many. Immediate reactions reflecting on the Catholic church's position in Ireland are inadequate, in that they acknowledge neither the complexity of the situation both historical and social that prevails in Ireland. This paper is an analysis of the campaign, the literature and arguments used, in an attempt to accomodate these factors.