By Kenneth Atisele
After a historic voting accompanied with a large turnout, 62 percent of voters have said ‘YES’, making Ireland the first country to adopt same-sex marriage via a popular vote.
‘Yes’ supporters crowded into the courtyard of Dublin Castle to watch in blistering sunshine as results trickled in from around the country were shown on a large screen. They cheered with joy as the final tally was announced and then burst into a rendition of the national anthem.
‘We woke up today to a new Ireland. The real Irish Republic that I have dreamed of my whole life,’ said Jean Webster, a 54 year-old administrator who came out as a lesbian eight years ago after separating from her husband.
According to Reuters, government ministers waved a rainbow flag from the stage in front of the crowd and one lesbian senator proposed to her partner live on national television.
The archbishop of Dublin said the result presented a challenge.
‘It is a social revolution. It’s very clear that if this referendum is an affirmation of the views of young people, then the Church has a huge task ahead of it,’ Archbishop Diarmuid Martin told national broadcaster RTE.
‘The Church needs to do a reality check,’ he added.
This time, all bar one of the 43 voting areas approved the marriage measure.
