The First Gay Marriages in Ireland Have Now Officially Been Performed

Hot on the heels of this morning’s announcement that same-sex marriage is now legal in Ireland, the first gay couple to be lawfully wed has come forward to make their long-term relationship legal. Cormac Gollogly and Richard Dowling have been together for 12 years and couldn’t be happier that their partnership is finally being recognized in the eyes of the law.

The Irish Times reports that the two had been planning to get married for two years but had held off hoping that marriage equality would pass before tying the knot. When they became concerned that such legality would be challenged (prolonging the legal battle indefinitely), they stepped into a civil partnership, celebrating their union only weeks before same-sex marriage became law. They returned to South Tipperary, the site of their civil ceremony to make the wedding official.

As pointed out previously, same-sex marriage in Ireland is bound by law but does not force any church to perform a same-sex ceremony if they do not want to do so. This protects both the interest of the church as well as those of the citizens and is a compromise that allows loving same-sex couples the same benefits of those who step into a ‘traditional marriage’.

According to The Irish Times, more couples are set to be wed today, legalizing their unions and finally being able to feel equal to those who have had the privilege for a long period of time. Here’s hoping thousands more join their ranks.