The country has voted overwhelmingly to repeal the 8th Amendment of the Constitution.

Almost two-thirds of the electorate turned out for Friday's vote - a total of over 3.3 million people.

Over 1.4 million people voted yes - 66.4% of the entire vote. Almost 724,000 voted no (33.6%).

Thirty-nine of the country's 40 constituencies voted to repeal the 8th Amendment, with just Donegal voting no.

In Dublin, 75.5% voted yes, while in the rest of Leinster, 66.6% voted yes. Some 63.3% voted yes in Munster and 57.5% voted yes in Connacht-Ulster.

Speaking after the result had been officially announced at Dublin Castle, the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said this was a historic day for Ireland and ‘a quiet revolution has taken place'.

"We have voted to look reality in the eye and we did not blink. We have voted to provide compassion where there was once a cold shoulder, and to offer medical care where once we turned a blind eye.

"To those who voted no, I know today is not welcome. You may feel that the country has taken the wrong turn, is no longer a country you recognise. I would like to reassure you that Ireland is still be the same country today as it was before, just a little more tolerant, open and respectful," he said.

The Government is hoping to have the proposed legislation in relation to the termination of pregnancy passed within six months. As part of this, abortion will be accessible for all women within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Anyone seeking an abortion during this period will have a 72-hour waiting period after they first attend a medical practitioner. No reason for the abortion will have to be given.

After 12 weeks, abortion will be permitted if there is a risk to a woman's life or risk of serious harm to her health. In such cases, two doctors will have to determine whether an should can be permitted.

It will also be permitted in the case of a fatal foetal abnormaility.