I went to a catholic boys school and was in leaving cert during the #repealedThe8th ref. About two weeks before the vote, my principal go every lad who was able to vote (including some 5th years) and we had a sexual health seminar where two women talked about there experiences

With abortion, basically lying about what really happens, saying that it was going to be legal up until weeks before due date and other scaremongering shit. Myself and a mate realised how disgusting this was (and illegal) so we went to the principal and demanded a pro choice

Seminar to be held in the interest of fairness. He said it wasn’t possible because of the religious tendencies and that the seminar we attended happens every year, which he lied about. He also lied in saying that he would organise a debate to facilitate “the discussion” which

Never happened. In my eyes this wasn’t good enough and I had to take matters into my own hands and go around telling all the lads on why it should be safe, free and legal and with the help of some teachers, We did it. We won, my first referendum I voted on changed the country

For the better. We made it safe free and legal. The school and the Catholic Church tried to sway the vote for our year, and the majority voted in favour of repealing the 8th.