Irish comedians abroad ask people to vote yes on their behalf in abortion referendum

Sharon Horgan and Aisling Bea have enlisted the help of fellow Irish comedians living abroad to ask people living in Ireland to "be our yes" in the abortion referendum.

On 25 May, voters in Ireland will decide whether the 8th amendment of the country's constitution will be repealed. This clause currently makes abortion illegal in almost all circumstances, which results in many women resorting to travelling overseas to seek access to abortion services.

Since the 8th Amendment went into effect in 1983, an estimated 150,000 women in Ireland have travelled abroad to have abortions.

Irish citizens living abroad cannot be entered onto the electoral register and therefore cannot vote in the referendum. That's why Irish comedians living abroad are asking others to vote yes on their behalf.

"Hello, it has recently come to our attention that women are people too. This has shocked and appalled many people understandably," said Bea.

Horgan and Bea enlisted the help of other Irish comedians and those with Irish parents and relatives to make their point. The video includes the likes of Katherine Ryan, Gráinne Maguire, Ed Byrne, Jimmy Carr, Roisin Conaty, Chris O'Dowd, Dawn O'Porter, and Graham and Linehan.

Despite the seriousness of the topic, the video is really funny, and makes excellent points about women's right to autonomy over their own bodies.

"I never really believed Irish women could be trusted with their bodies because I remember how crazy we went for line dancing in the '90s," said Maguire.

"We are the Judases who left Ireland and can no longer vote," said Bea. "We no longer have a voice in our own beloved country."

"We would be on a boat—not a boat, on a plane—now because we'd wanna make a bit of a holiday out of it as well," said Horgan.

Comedian Roisin Conaty, a British woman whose mother is Irish, talked about how her reproductive rights are different to those of her Irish counterparts. "Because my mum got on a ferry and had a baby here [in England] I have rights that all of those women don't have," said Conaty. "Hardly seems fair."

"Please let Waterford Crystal and Tayto be Ireland's biggest exports," said Bea. "Not women," added Horgan.

"This May 25, please be our yes, and repeal the 8th"