This coming week will mark 10 years since Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage through a referendum.

Former Tánaiste Joan Burton joined The Anton Savage Show to reflect on the anniversary of the result, what it meant for Irish society and politics at the time, and its remaining legacy.

“There were a number of changes which drove [the result], certainly in the Labour Party,” Ms Burton said.

“I think the other thing that happened as well is a lot of gay people, gay couples – men and women – decided to become politically involved and politically connected.

“They talked to the politicians, they met the politicians, they talked in their local newspapers, in the national newspapers."

Gay marriage referendum. Image: PA Images / Alamy. 23 May 2015

Ms Burton said that the nearly two-thirds majority by which the vote passed was hugely significant.

“I think it was very visible that, let’s say, younger people who are from 18 to say in their middle 30s, that they were very solidly pro,” she said.

“That wasn’t to say that there wasn’t a lot of young people who had reservations and negativity about it.

“When you were talking to people canvassing who are activists for the campaign, as a politician, what I said to them is, ‘Just make sure you talk to all your family – and particularly talk to the older people in the family – so they understand how important it is to you’.”

Posters in Burt, County Donegal urging a No vote, ahead of the 22nd May marriage equality referendum in Ireland. Credit: George Sweeney/Alamy Live News. 21st May, 2015.

According to Ms Burton, it was a “hard decision” for many that would have grown up in an environment where being openly gay would have been a criminal act.

“I think in the end, there was a big thing between ages, and it was older people who were fearful and more likely to be negative on it,” she said.

However, Ms Burton said she felt most older were not “negative towards the young people who were gay in a personal way” but were “just Constitutionally more worried about it”.

Main image: Drag queen and gay rights activist Rory O'Neill, known by his stage name as Panti Bliss arrives at the Central Count Centre in Dublin Castle, Dublin, as votes continue to be counted in the referendum on same-sex marriage.