Aye, those closet racists had an excuse - and so they just went balls to the walls with it, without even realising. To be fair, politicians weren't exactly forthcoming either. I doubt even they planned ahead, or thought about much of anything in advance, so it was like the blind leading the blind. Why one would listen to the likes of any politician though, rather than being smart about finding the facts, well. Laziness, perhaps.
I think I also read there's been an explosion of folks attempting to get their hands on Irish passports, since Ireland has no plans to leave the EU. People could still travel freely. I'd make a killing over there, forging documents