To the very end, opponents of same-sex marriage in Ireland held out hope. Yesterday they were reporting high numbers of immigrant Africans and Muslims standing in line at polling stations and hoped they would balance out the hordes of young people who were expected to make Ireland the first country in the world to vote for same-sex marriage.

If only there were more immigrant Africans and Muslims, the hordes of native born Irish could be beaten back at the polling booth! This is the first time I've seen the right pin its hopes on those groups.

Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other. -- Dr Johnson