There was all-party support in 2010 for the Civil Partnership Bill, introduced by the Fianna Fáil / Green government which provided for legal recognition for the relationships of same-sex couples.
In 2006, at the opening of the new headquarters of the gay rights organisation GLEN in Dublin, the then-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said: Our sexual orientation is not an incidental attribute.
[citation needed] On 23 May 2015, through a nationwide referendum, Ireland became the first country to legalise same sex marriage by popular vote.
Irish society has become more open and tolerant as a result of increased levels of prosperity and rising liberal attitudes.
The town of Sligo home to a little over 20,000 inhabitants has its own annual Gay Pride parade and festival, such events are rising in popularity in rural areas of Ireland.
[19] The LGBT community is no exception when it comes to taking part in the Saint Patrick's Day parades and celebrations across the island in cities such as Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Derry, Galway and Waterford.