Yes Equality: A silence has been broken forever
Yes Equality Cork has said its members always knew today's vote would end in tears, and today they know "what kind of tears they are".
Chairman of Yes Equality Cork Joe Noonan said: "The people of Ireland have taken a brave and trusting step forward. They voted with confidence and compassion.
"With this Yes, the Irish People have shown their families, their friends and not least themselves, what their true values are. Family matters. Children matter. Everyone matters."
He added: "Ireland has lit a beacon bright enough to be seen around the world. Ireland is the first country to vote by nationwide referendum for marriage equality for all of its citizens."
Referring to the #hometovote phenomenon which saw people travelling home from as far away as Australia to vote, he said: "Everyone who could came home to vote, pouring in from every corner of the globe. Others asked us to stand for them. It is an honour to be asked to stand for somebody.
"From London to Sydney, from San Francisco to Shanghai we saw the pictures. Irish people stood up together for equality."
Of voters close to home he said: "In every parish, every county, every town, every city we knew of the silent Yes. Canvassers heard it as they stood in the street or as they went door to door to strangers' houses.
"Sometimes it was only a whisper. Sometimes it was a only a look. But when we saw it, we knew what it was. Beyond the media campaign, beyond the shrill noises, if you listened carefully you could hear those quiet voices too.
"The conversations these past weeks have been mighty. People have spoken in a way that they would never have spoken before, within families, between families and with complete strangers. This has been a hugely positive experience overall. A silence has been broken forever."
Of the youth vote which many believe swung the referendum towards Yes, he said: "The final achievement was the political awakening of a new generation. Young people drove the campaign with an energy and creativity that was unstoppable. They knew that for once their vote could make a difference. And what a difference!"
