TWO uniformed gardaí sit at the back of Cork's City Hall looking utterly bored. "We're here just in case something happens," says one, with an air of mystery. Like what? "You never know." But nothing much did happen over the course of the day in Cork - except for the early predicted Yes victory - and the gardaí are not alone in their boredom.

By 9.10am, Cork North Central Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher is already predicting a Yes victory. "It's definitely been carried," he says with a smile.

"The last time around I knew after 10 minutes we'd lost, so I know what I'm talking about."

The energetic TD, appropriately adorned in an Ireland and European flag pin badge, has been keeping the tally since the first boxes were cracked open.

The mood at City Hall is one of a quiet confidence and relief as the morning progresses. Most of the few present represent the Yes side.

"They're incognito," dec­lares Fianna Fáil tallyman Noel O'Keefe, about the lack of No supporters who have shown up to keep an eye on how the count is progressing.

One anti-Lisbon campaigner who is present is Socialist Party councillor Mick Barry, representing Cork North Central. By 11am, he's accepted defeat.

"The government and the Yes camp had a plan. It was the 'F plan': fear, fear and more fear. It's not easy to vote No when you have a gun put to your head. But congratulations to everyone who did. The government promised jobs and economic recovery if the people voted Yes. The people will now have to hold them to account on those issues and demand change."

By 11.30am, all the boxes are open and the count has begun. Fianna Fáil member and former mayor of Cork Donal Counihan is confident of an easy win in Cork. "There was a feeling that the 'No' side might rise to the occasion," he says. "But it didn't."

It's been 20 years since Cork North Central passed a referendum. Over 64% of voters here rejected Lisbon the first time around, making it the third-highest constituency to reject it. Two former Fine Gael MEPs Simon Coveney and Colm Burke, are in high spirits as it is announced Lisbon has been passed in Cork South Central by 67%, and by 56% in Cork North Central.

"If we'd said no again, Ireland would have killed the Lisbon treaty," says Coveney gravely. "The next thing we need is a change in government." It's a rare sight to see so many Fianna Fáil members in such celebratory form but they have to seize these golden moments wherever possible and it's being thoroughly savoured.

Billy Kelleher even has something to say about the expenses row involving his FF colleague Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue, first reported in the Sunday Tribune. "I believe that the expenses of all TDs should be published by their offices," he says. "That way the public can see them and there's no mystery surrounding it."