First same-sex marriages are a cause for celebration

THE overwhelming acceptance by Irish voters of same-sex marriage in last May’s referendum was a moment of great celebration for the thousands of gay couples, their friends, and families who campaigned for it.

Yesterday was, in many ways, a day of greater joy as Ireland’s first male couple tied the knot.

Richard Dowling and Cormac Gollogly led the way by getting married in Clonmel, Co Tipperary. They will now go down in history as the first same-sex couple to be married in Ireland.

Like most things worth fighting for, equality does not come easy.

It has taken decades of combating not only a harsh criminal justice regime but also ignorance, oppression, and discrimination for gay couples to finally gain full acceptance here.

Anyone who voted in the referendum — either for or against — can take heart at the joy that was evident on the faces of Richard and Cormac as they clutched their marriage certificate and looked forward to a long life together.