Ireland's historic abortion referendum in images

Ireland's historic abortion referendum in images - Irish voters will cast their ballots on whether or not to repeal the country's Eighth Amendment on Friday, May 25, 2018. The clause in the Irish constitution outlaws abortion by giving equal rights to the unborn. Take a look at these fascinating images of history in the making.

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Contentious - A protestor stands in front of the Project Arts Centre after a pro-choice mural was painted over for a second time. The Irish charities regulator ordered it to be removed.

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Women's issue - Women chat in front of a pro-choice mural on May 9, 2018.

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Generational - The Eighth Amendment was introduced in a 1983 referendum, so no-one under the age of 54 has voted on this issue before.

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Personal - A mural depicts Savita Halappanavar, who died due to the complications of a septic miscarriage in 2012.

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Alone - Ireland is the only country in the European Union where abortion is illegal unless it occurs as the result of medical intervention to save the life of the mother.

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Protests - Demonstrators take part in a pro-life rally in Dublin on May 12, 2018.

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Pro-choice - A pro-choice poster from ROSA in the centre of Dublin. The organisation states that "A strong vote for Repeal will represent a major victory in the ongoing fight for real gender and and economic equality in Ireland".

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Pro-life - The pro-life campaign argues that " All human beings possess an equal and inherent worth simply by virtue of their humanity, and not on condition of their possessing other qualifications such as size or mental capacity. The Eighth Amendment saves lives".

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Polarising - People walk past opposing pro-life and pro-choice posters in Dublin on May 22, 2018.

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Campaigning - A pro-life poster on the side of a building in Dublin.

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Public debate - Demonstrators take to the streets in Dublin on May 22, 2018.

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Personal - A demonstrator paints a symbol of a crossed-out number eight for Repeal on her face during a march on March 8, 2018.

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Sign from above - A banner reading "Support Women - Repeal the Eighth" flies overhead on March 8, 2018.

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Crowds - A pro-life rally in the centre of Dublin on May 12, 2018.

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Religion - Fr. Peter O'Kane from Belfast takes part in the May 12, 2018 rally.

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Catholic - Ireland is one of Europe’s most socially conservative and Catholic countries.

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Ballot - A demonstrator holds up a mock referendum polling-card during a rally in Dublin on May 12, 2018.

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Messages - A dog walks past a pro-choice sign at the harbour in Dublin.

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Poster child - Two-year-old Rossi Maloney holds a pro-life poster. He was featured as a "No" campaign poster child after his mother, Emma Maloney, credits the Eighth Amendment for saving his life after an unplanned pregnancy.

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Children - Emma Maloney and son Rossi alongside Martin McBreen and his daughter Grace, aged 3, on May 23, 2018.

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Historic - Pro-choice demonstrators dressed as suffragettes campaign for a repeal of the amendment.

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Signs - A woman walks past a pro-choice poster in the city centre of Dublin.

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Children - Two-year-old Joseph Quaid holds a plastic foetus as he is held by Eirinn Quaid during a rally on May 12, 2018.

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