When the marriage equality referendum results were announced on May 23rd, 2015, I felt an overwhelming surge of emotion—joy, relief, and pride in my country. As a Dubliner, watching 62% of Irish voters choose love and equality felt like witnessing history in the making. The scenes at Dublin Castle that evening will stay with me forever—strangers hugging, tears of joy, and the collective exhale of a community that had finally been embraced.
The personal impact hit home just months later when Sarah and I became the first same-sex couple to marry in Roscommon. The symbolism wasn't lost on us—here we were, exchanging vows in a county that had voted no, and proving that love could transcend electoral boundaries. Our wedding became more than a personal celebration; it was a statement that change was possible and that every corner of Ireland could be home to LGBTQ+ families.
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Marriage was just the beginning of our legal journey. While the referendum granted us the right to marry, securing parental rights for our four children required navigating a complex web of legislation, legal applications, and bureaucratic processes. We were fortunate—we had the resources, determination, and legal support to fight for recognition as equal parents to all our children. But that journey showed us how precarious legal protections can be for LGBTQ+ families, and how much work remains.
We're among the lucky ones who managed to secure full legal recognition, but too many couples still face barriers that shouldn't exist. Over the past decade, I've witnessed remarkable changes in Ireland's LGBTQ+ community. Young people are coming out with confidence that my generation could only dream of. LGBTQ+ families are visible in schools, sporting events, and community gatherings. The referendum didn't just change laws; it shifted the national conversation about what family means in modern Ireland.
Yet significant challenges persist. The rise in hate crimes and discrimination over recent years has been deeply concerning. As parents, Sarah and I worry about our children facing prejudice that we hoped would be relegated to history. More troubling is knowing that while we secured legal protections for our family, other LGBTQ+ couples are still fighting battles we thought were won in 2015.
Pride Month holds special meaning for our family. It's our annual celebration of love, resilience, and community. With four children aged between one and seven, Pride has become a family tradition.
My favourite Pride memories include watching our children wave rainbow flags with uninhibited joy, explaining to their curious friends why we celebrate love in all its forms, and seeing my own parents, who've become fierce advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, stand proudly beside us. These moments remind me how far we've come and how love truly can change hearts.
Ten years after marriage equality, Pride Month serves as both a celebration and a call to action. While we commemorate the progress made, we must acknowledge that too many families continue to fight for basic recognition and protection. Our children are growing up in an Ireland that legally recognises their family structure, but we must ensure all LGBTQ+ families have the same security we were fortunate enough to achieve.
The 2015 referendum was transformative, but it marked the beginning of our journey toward true equality, not its end. As we reflect on this decade of progress, we're reminded that individual victories aren't enough—we need systemic change that protects every LGBTQ+ family in Ireland.