As Ireland says ‘Yes’, Senator Katherine Zappone proposes on live TV

Senator Katherine Zappone celebrated Ireland’s vote for equality today, by proposing to her partner Dr Ann Louise Gilligan on live TV.

While the official result is due later this afternoon, early indictions have shown that a majority of Irish citizens have backed a change to the constitution allowing same-sex marriage.

The couple married in Canada over a decade ago, but have battled the Irish courts since 2004 as their marriage was not recognised in Ireland.

Speaking on RTÉ this afternoon, Zappone took the opportunity to celebrate the news, before directly speaking to camera and addressing Gilligan.

“I want to ask a question that I’ve been dying to ask. Now that we have a Republic of equals, a Republic of freedom and a Republic of love. today, in this new Ireland, Ann Louise Gilligan, will you marry me?”

She added: “There’s nothing like an Irish wedding!”

Dr Gilligan joined her wife a short while later, and accepted the proposal to loud cheers from the crowd in Dublin.

Senator Katherine Zappone has proposed to her partner Ann Louise Gilligan live on RTÉ’s referendum coverage https://t.co/ZnCfMqwmcI

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) May 23, 2015

As they cast their votes yesterday, Seantor Zappone said that people were voting “for a republic of equals, a republic of love”.

The first official results are just beginning to come in, with an official declaration expected around 6pm.

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