When Anthony Kinahan and Barry Gardiner exchanged vows at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dundalk, they did so in front of the very people who fought to make their union possible. For them, their wedding wasn’t just a celebration of their love and commitment to each other, but a much needed ‘thank you’ to those who campaigned tirelessly alongside them in the run up to Ireland’s marriage equality referendum.
The couple themselves were heavily involved in the campaign. In fact, they decided to return home from London and dedicate themselves to the cause. They set up the first regional marriage equality group - Marriage Equality Louth - before it linked with Outcomers to eventually become Yes Equality.