Gay marriage legalized in ireland

Same-sex couples in the Republic of Ireland can officially get married from today,
after the country voted overwhelmingly for the change in a referendum in May.

Legislation legalising gay civil marriage, passed following the vote, came into effect
on Monday.

The first couples to be affected will be gay couples who married legally abroad –
whose unions will now automatically be recognised by the Irish state.

But the race is now on to see who which couple will become the first gay newlyweds
to legally marry in Eire itself.