Cheers and tears as Ireland approves gay marriage

Bouncing with excitement, around 2,000 people who packed the castle grounds cheered the landslide referendum result as hundreds more crowded into the streets and Dublin's gay bars in one giant party.

After a spontaneous, emotion-fuelled rendition of the national anthem, a mass of camera phones went up and people put their children on their shoulders as the returning officer appeared on the screen to announce the landmark moment in Ireland's social history.

She was half-way through the figure for the "Yes" vote when deafening cheers broke out.

Heart-shaped balloons floated up into the air as people clapped with their hands above their heads and roared with delight.

Supporters hugged and kissed one another afterwards, standing with their arms around each other, while some were visibly moved.

"It's amazing, the atmosphere is electric," said Paul Bonass, a 27-year-old Dubliner, holding up giant silver YES balloons.

"I don't think there's a single person here who wasn't completely on the edge of their seats. Even though we knew what it was going to be, you want that confirmation, that crescendo."

Though he had no immediate plans to tie the knot with his boyfriend of six years, he said it was "fantastic to finally have the option the same as everyone else."

Supporters gave the V for Victory, while one sign in the crowd read: "Thank you, you're all invited to the wedding".

One woman, Amanda, said she was "absolutely overjoyed, overwhelmed, amazed, so proud to be Irish.

"I've been crying, I've been shaking, I've been just so excited it's absolutely, absolutely amazing."

Another, Noleen, added: "My heart is beating fast, it's nuts, it's just such a happy, happy day."

Couple plan wedding

Peter Lynch, a retired teacher from Dublin, had a home-made sign around his neck in Irish and English reading "Tháinig ár lá (Our day came). Thank you Ireland".

"You're entitled to go mad once in your life, when you finally become legal!", he told AFP.

"I'm 60. The first 40 years of my life I was a criminal," he said -- a reference to Ireland's decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1993.

"The next 20 years I was a second-class citizen," he said.

"It's been an extraordinary day."

One lesbian couple had particular cause to celebrate as the law should pass as planned before their December 17 wedding date.

Niamh Herrity, 32, and Aoife Doyle, 34, who have been together for four years, were posing for photos in their "Yes" T-shirts in front of the wedding dresses in the shop window of Memories Bridal Boutique, in Dublin's Parliament Street.

"We got our dresses last week, and this week we're allowed to get married. It's been an amazing, emotional couple of weeks," said Doyle.

They joked that as well as Adam and Eve, Aoife and Niamh -- pronounced "efah" and "neev" -- will now be permitted to tie the knot.

"We got engaged two years ago. We're delighted that Ireland has pulled together for us. They did us proud," said Herrity.

'A new Ireland'

Dublin's few gay bars were set to party into the night, and the streets around them were crammed long before sunset.

Rory O'Neill, better known by his stage name Panti Bliss, is Ireland's foremost drag queen and runs the Pantibar.

Wearing a figure-hugging dress and high heels, she regally marched a small army from the bar to the castle, where she was greeted by tumultuous applause.

"It's an incredible affirmation of a new Ireland, in a way. I don't think Ireland changed today but what Ireland did today was it confirmed a change that has already happened," she told reporters.

"Outsiders still are hung up on this idea that Ireland is some sort of very conservative country ruled by the Catholic Church and that has become more and more annoying for Irish people over the years," she explained.