Brexit: Ireland watches the vote unfold

Summary

---

Witness History – “Brexit: Ireland Watches the Vote Unfold”

Host: Helen Ledwick
Original Air Date: June 23, 2026
Podcast: Witness History (BBC)

---

Episode Overview

This episode of Witness History transports listeners back to the night of the 2016 Brexit referendum, as experienced through the eyes of Rory Montgomery, then EU advisor to the Irish Prime Minister. With a keen focus on Ireland’s perspective, it explores how the seismic vote was watched with alarm, the historical and economic bonds between the UK and Ireland, and immediate reactions as the result became clear. The episode balances archival broadcasts and personal witness, immersing the audience in the tense hours as Britain chose to leave the European Union.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Stage: What Was at Stake? (00:52–01:50)

• Background on the EU:
  Helen Ledwick offers context—the UK’s long and often fraught relationship with the EU, and the stark choice presented to voters: remain or leave.
• Why Ireland Was Watching Closely:
  • The Republic of Ireland joined the EU (then EEC) with the UK in 1973.
  • The UK is Ireland’s nearest neighbor, top trading partner, and a crucial peace process partner (notably in Northern Ireland).
  • Quote — Rory Montgomery (01:50):
    “Britain, our nearest neighbour, Britain, our most important trading partner, and Britain, the country with which we had jointly managed the Northern Ireland peace process. And also Britain, the country in which millions of people of Irish origin or Irish descent live.”

---

Irish Fears and Preparation Ahead of the Vote (02:13–03:21)

• Risk to Peace and Prosperity:
  Rory Montgomery shares concerns about destabilizing the Good Friday Agreement and the deep economic ties between the countries.
  • Quote — Rory Montgomery (02:38):
    “I think we were afraid that the vote would destabilize Northern Ireland after all the years of effort to put together the Good Friday Agreement and to implement it.... Because our economic relationship with the UK is so close that that will be damaged as well.”
• Anticipation vs. Reality:
  The Irish government, while preparing thoroughly for any outcome, mostly expected Remain to triumph, though its London embassy warned the result could be tighter than expected.
  • Anecdote: Rory recounts the debut of a racehorse named Brexit, “came home well beaten”—taken as a hopeful omen for Remain, but “nothing was certain in any kind of bet.” (03:21)

---

The Night Unfolds: Real-Time Reactions (03:59–05:42)

• Tension and Early Anxiety:
  Thursday night, 23 June 2016, Rory takes a midnight taxi, catching the first results; the unexpectedly large Leave margin in Sunderland heightens anxiety.
  • Quote — Rory Montgomery (04:59):
    “We expected there to be a Leave vote in Sunderland, but the margin was a lot larger than I think most people had expected. … I remember feeling already very anxious.”
• Hope Fades:
  The team sets up in the Taoiseach’s office, watching as more results break the expected pattern. Once the Home Counties and Midlands results come in, a Leave win becomes inevitable.
  • Quote — Rory Montgomery (05:42):
    “People move pretty quickly from anxiety to resignation...once the results started to come in ... it became clear that what we were seeing was a pattern. And it became clear, I couldn't say exactly when. 3, 4 in the morning, that, barring some kind of miracle, remains to be beaten and Leave is going to win.”

---

The Result and Official Irish Response (06:13–07:43)

• Acknowledging the Upset:
  As BBC News calls the 52-48 result, Rory swings into “operational mode,” urgently working on the government response.
  • Quote — Rory Montgomery (06:34):
    “I remember feeling quite calm. And the weird thing was that I had said jokingly to somebody a day or two earlier, wouldn't it be interesting if there was a vote to leave? … as a civil servant you have to move fairly quickly into sort of operational mode.”
• Swift Messaging:
  Rory’s priority: draft a reassuring and coherent statement, focusing on public confidence amidst unprecedented uncertainty.
  • Quote — Rory Montgomery (07:06):
    “Well, the top of the mind, I think, was that the government should put out a coherent statement and do it quickly. ... to reassure [the public] that we were prepared and that we kind of knew what we were doing, even though it was an unprecedented situation.”
• The Irish PM Addresses the Nation:
  Taoiseach Enda Kenny expresses regret but respect for the UK’s decision, and reassures the Irish public of the government’s preparedness.
  • Quote — Enda Kenny (07:43): “I'm very sorry that the result of the referendum is for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. However, the British people have spoken clearly and we fully respect their position and their decision. I want to assure the Irish public that we have prepared to the greatest extent possible for this eventuality.”

---

Aftermath and Reflection (08:09–08:48)

• A Moment of History:
  Montgomery reflects on the significance and his feelings—a mixture of professional excitement and personal disappointment, but not surprise.
  • Quote — Rory Montgomery (08:22):
    “Well, it was a kind of mixture of things. … it was a sense that this was a really important moment, that I was in the middle of it, that there would be lots of challenges ahead.... As a citizen of Ireland and as an official of the Irish government, I just felt disappointment, but not surprise, I suppose, is what I would say.”
• Legacy and Continuing Work:
  The episode notes that Brexit made arrangements for Northern Ireland one of the most complex elements to sort out. The UK officially left the EU on 31 January 2020. Montgomery went on to lead Ireland’s Brexit negotiation team for three years.

---

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the stakes for Ireland:
  “Britain, our nearest neighbour, Britain, our most important trading partner...the country with which we had jointly managed the Northern Ireland peace process.” – Rory Montgomery (01:50)
• Irish fears before the vote:
  “We were afraid that the vote would destabilize Northern Ireland after all the years of effort to put together the Good Friday Agreement and to implement it.” – Rory Montgomery (02:38)
• Early Irish anxiety as results came in:
  “We expected there to be a Leave vote in Sunderland, but the margin was a lot larger than I think most people had expected.” – Rory Montgomery (04:59)
• On realizing Leave would win:
  “It became clear...that, barring some kind of miracle, remain is to be beaten and Leave is going to win.” – Rory Montgomery (05:42)
• Civil service in crisis:
  “As a civil servant, you have to move fairly quickly into sort of operational mode.” – Rory Montgomery (06:34)
• Need for swift official response:
  “It was above all else to get ourselves ready and ... to reassure [the public] that we were prepared and that we kind of knew what we were doing, even though it was an unprecedented situation.” – Rory Montgomery (07:06)
• Irish Prime Minister on result:
  “I want to assure the Irish public that we have prepared to the greatest extent possible for this eventuality.” – Enda Kenny (07:43)
• Personal reflection:
  “As a citizen of Ireland and as an official of the Irish government, I just felt disappointment, but not surprise, I suppose, is what I would say.” – Rory Montgomery (08:22)

---

Episode Structure & Flow (Timestamps)

• 00:00–00:40: Introduction and context
• 00:40–01:19: Archival media, explanation of Brexit referendum
• 01:19–02:13: Irish perspective introduced (Rory Montgomery), stakes outlined
• 02:13–03:21: Irish diplomatic preparations and anxieties
• 03:21–03:59: Atmosphere on referendum night; omens and expectations
• 03:59–05:19: Early returns, anxious monitoring, growing realization
• 05:19–06:34: Pattern confirmed; acceptance of Leave’s victory
• 06:34–07:43: Immediate Irish response, official statement
• 07:43–08:09: Enda Kenny’s address; assurance to public
• 08:09–08:48: Retrospective reflection on the experience and consequences
• 08:48–[End]: Closing summary and credits

---

Memorable Moments

• The symbolism—and irony—of a racehorse named Brexit losing its debut on referendum night (03:21)
• The quiet tension as an empty government building slowly fills in the early hours, marked by Rory’s solitary anxiety (04:59)
• Montgomery’s civil servant instinct taking over as history unfolds (“you have to move fairly quickly into operational mode” – 06:34)
• The poignant, statesmanlike response of Enda Kenny, expressing regret but public reassurance (07:43)

---

Summary

This episode insightfully captures the Brexit referendum through an Irish lens, a night fraught with anxiety over the northern peace process and deep economic links. The hour-by-hour trajectory from nervous optimism to resignation is framed by personal anecdotes and historic broadcasts. Listeners gain not just a report of facts, but a front-row seat to official and emotional reactions inside Dublin’s government offices as the reality of Brexit dawned.

---

Transcript

[BBC News Reporter]

Foreign.

[Helen Ledwick]

Welcome to Witness History with me, Helen Ledwick. If you're already a regular listener, feel free to skip ahead a bit, but if you're new here, then welcome. We're the podcast that takes you back to a moment in history told by the people who were there. Episodes are just nine minutes long and come out every weekday, so if that sounds like your kind of thing, make sure you subscribe and turn your push notifications on. And now I'm taking you back to 2016 for a vote that divided the United Kingdom and sent political shockwaves far beyond its borders.

[BBC Narrator]

That's it. The polls are closed. And so what we want to know is how have you voted for the UK to either remain in the European Union or have you voted to leave the Union?

[Helen Ledwick]

We'll get to how it all panned out, but first, a bit of background. The European Union, or eu, is a group of countries that work together politically and economically. In 2016, there were 28 members, including the UK, but that membership had long been a subject of debate, so voters were asked to choose remain or leave. Here's how the BBC children's programme Newsround explained it at the time.

[BBC Children's Programme Newsround Presenter]

Supporters of the EU think the UK is stronger as part of it. That's because we buy and sell lots of things with European countries. People who want to leave the EU say it forces too many rules on Britain. They say leaving will give British people more control over issues like immigration.

[Helen Ledwick]

The votes will become known as the Brexit referendum, short for Britain and exit. And the other EU countries are following with interest. But one interest is watching especially closely the Republic of Ireland.

[Rory Montgomery]

We joined the EEC, as it was with Britain at the same time, 1973. Britain, our nearest neighbour, Britain, our most important trading partner, and Britain, the country with which we had jointly managed the Northern Ireland peace process. And also Britain, the country in which millions of people of Irish origin or Irish descent live.

[Helen Ledwick]

Rory Montgomery is a former Irish diplomat and at the time of the referendum, he's the EU advisor to the Irish Prime Minister, or Taoiseach. He'd previously served as Ireland's ambassador to the eu, and he'd been part of the Irish team that negotiated the Good Friday Agreement, the peace deal that helped to end 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland, just across the border in the uk.

[Rory Montgomery]

I think we were afraid that the vote would destabilize Northern Ireland after all the years of effort to put together the Good Friday Agreement and to implement it. And we are also afraid, I think, because our economic relationship with the UK is so close that that will be damaged as well. And then finally, I suppose in the EU itself, Britain was a very close partner and we didn't look forward with any enthusiasm whatever, to put it mildly, to an EU without the uk.

[Helen Ledwick]

For months, Rory and his team have been working on Ireland's preparations for whichever way the vote might go. The UK bookies have remained as the favourite, so do many of the polling experts, but it's far from settled.

[Rory Montgomery]

Generally the view was that the Leave vote was unlikely to carry, that the vote would be remain. I'd have to say that our embassy in London particularly well plugged in and it was warning throughout that, you know, things were not necessarily as straightforward as all that and that it would be very tight. We were looking for omens, if you like. And on that very evening, in fact, a two year old racehorse called Brexit made its debut at Windsor Racecourse, came home well beaten. So we thought that was a good omen, but nothing was certain in any kind of bet.

[Helen Ledwick]

10:00pm on Thursday 23 Jun 2016 in the UK, the polls have just closed. Counting's underway in Dublin. Rory's at home, but he and his team have arranged to head back to work at 3am to watch the results come in. And he's restless, so at midnight he calls a taxi.

[Rory Montgomery]

I asked the driver could we listen to the news, because he probably would have had the usual mix of classic hits or whatever it might have been. And it was a short journey, but a lot happened in that time and the first results came out and began to realize it was going to be most probably a very long and difficult night.

[BBC News Reporter]

So let's have, let's go straight to Sunderland.

[BBC Children's Programme Newsround Presenter]

The total number of votes cast in favour of remain was 51,930. The total number of votes cast in favour of leave was 82,000.

[Rory Montgomery]

We expected there to be a Leave vote in Sunderland, but the margin was a lot larger than I think most people had expected. So I remember already by the time I arrived in Government buildings and I think I was basically the only person there apart from the security guards for an hour or so. Remember feeling already very anxious.

[Helen Ledwick]

In the early hours of Friday, Rory and his team are set up in a conference room at the office of the Taoiseach. TVs tuned to different channels, refreshments to see them through. And as more results come in, it becomes apparent that all bets are off.

[BBC News Reporter]

Now let's have a look at what happened in that Newcastle result. Here we go. Look at how close that is. See it's nothing like what our, our index suggested there.

[Rory Montgomery]

I mean, people move pretty quickly from anxiety to resignation. For a time, we maybe were hoping that there would be a special kind of Northeast of England factor, which might explain Sunderland and Newcastle. But once the results started to come in from the Home Counties and Midlands and so on, it became clear that what we were seeing was a pattern. And it became clear, I couldn't say exactly when. 3, 4 in the morning, that, barring some kind of miracle, remains to be beaten and Leave is going to win.

[BBC News Reporter]

It looks as though the gap's going to be something like 52 to 48. So a four point lead for leaving the EU. And that's the result of this referendum, which has been preceded by weeks and months of argument and dispute and all the rest of it. The British people have spoken and the answer is we're out.

[Rory Montgomery]

I remember feeling quite calm. And the weird thing was that I had said jokingly to somebody a day or two earlier, wouldn't it be interesting if there was a vote to leave? I wonder what would happen then. Now, I never really meant that, but I suppose as a civil servant you have to move fairly quickly into sort of operational mode.

[Helen Ledwick]

So it's action stations and Rory's in his office drafting and redrafting the Irish government's response to Brexit.

[Rory Montgomery]

Well, the top of the mind, I think, was that the government should put out a coherent statement and do it quickly. You know, there was time thereafter to start thinking more deeply about the particular issues and how we might address them. But it was above all else to get ourselves ready and above all, vis a vis our home public, as they reassure them that we were prepared and that we kind of knew what we were doing, even though it was an unprecedented situation.

[Helen Ledwick]

Later that morning, the Irish Taoiseach Ender Kenny stands in front of a row of EU and Irish flags and addresses the country.

[Enda Kenny]

I'm very sorry that the result of the referendum is for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. However, the British people have spoken clearly and we fully respect their position and their decision. I want to assure the Irish public that we have prepared to the greatest extent possible for this eventuality.

[Helen Ledwick]

After more than 40 years, the UK was ending its membership of the European Union, the first member state to do so. It made headlines around the world and for Rory, it was time to reflect.

[Rory Montgomery]

Well, it was a kind of mixture of things. I mean, it was a sense that this was a really important moment, that I was in the middle of it, that there would be lots of challenges ahead. So from a purely, I suppose, professional point of view, it was quite exciting, but in a more serious way. As a citizen of Ireland and as an official of the Irish government, I just felt disappointment, but not surprise, I suppose, is what I would say.

[Helen Ledwick]

Following the votes, arrangements for Northern Ireland became one of the most common, complex aspects of Brexit. The UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020. Rory Montgomery led Ireland's Brexit negotiating team for three years before retiring. He continues to write and broadcast on European affairs and Northern Ireland. He was speaking to me, Helen Ledwick, for Witness History from the BBC World Service. And if you enjoyed that, you might be interested in some of our other episodes, like this, the Good Friday Agreement referendum, or when Britain tried to censor the troubles in Northern Ireland or with a more EU flavour, Maastricht, the birth of the European Union. Thanks for listening and don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

[BBC Narrator]

Imagine being here. Scientists have made the atomic bomb. The first one was dropped on a Japanese city this morning here.

[Rory Montgomery]

During the meeting, Mr. Mandela was informed of the government's decision regarding his release.

[BBC Narrator]

And here witnesses have spoken of a wall of water that swept coastlines in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand. Hear from the people who were there.

[Rory Montgomery]

He heard me praying while he was shooting and he just stopped and he said, I'm not going to. I'm going to leave you here to tell the story. Knowing that you have a spy and that you're following a spy. It doesn't get any cooler than that.

[BBC Narrator]

Witness History brings you firsthand accounts.

[Rory Montgomery]

Merkel gets up and says, I'm going, and Tusk says, I'm locking the door. Nobody's leaving. You're reaching a compromise or you're not leaving this room. Was it shopping carts that made you rich?

[BBC News Reporter]

Well, they didn't make me poor.

[BBC Narrator]

Listen now. Search for Witness History wherever you get your BBC podcasts.