A majority of farmers are in support of same-sex marriage, according to a new poll by the Irish Examiner.

The poll by the newspaper and farmers group the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) found that, if a referendum on gay marriage was to take place today, 46% of farmers would be in favour, 41% would be against, and 13% said they didn't know how they would vote.

Support for a change in the law surged to 64% among young farmers under 35.

Farmers over the age of 65 were most against gay marriage, with 73% saying say they would vote against marriage rights for gay couples.

Director of the Gay and Lesbian Network of Ireland Brian Sheehan told the Examiner that the findings illustrated a "transformation in attitudes to lesbian and gay people in rural Ireland."

The Government has committed to holding a referendum on same-sex marriage in 2015.