Here's a great article in Irish Times by Fintan O'Toole. Quote:
It looks extraordinary – little Ireland becoming the first country in the world to support same sex marriage by direct popular vote. ...The resounding Yes is a statement that Ireland has left tolerance far behind. It’s saying that there’s no “them” anymore. LGBT people are us — our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, neighbours and friends. We were given the chance to say that. We were asked to replace tolerance with the equality of citizenship. And we took it in both arms and hugged it close.