Brian Stapleton (31), from Loughrea in Co. Galway looks back on his school years and thinks about how homophobic bullying must have affected some of his peers. He knows homophobic bullying is still a daily misery for some. He believes the future must be better and he sees that equal marriage is part of that better future.

“Right now in Ireland, there are thousands of teenagers who may be afraid to talk to their family or friends. They may be afraid to walk down the street for fear of bullies. We’ve been given a chance to change this.”