Ireland is having a referendum on same-sex marriage today.

If it passes, it will become the first country to introduce the legislation by popular vote.

Because of Irish voting laws, expats aren’t allowed to vote today unless they’re actually in the country.

Refusing to let go of their say because of a technicality, lots and lots of people have been going back to Ireland over the past 24 hours so they can vote today.


They’ve been documenting their trip with the hashtag #hometovote, and you should probably get tissues out before reading those tweets, because it’s about to get emotional.

This is the scene on the 9:10 London to Holyhead train as Irish abroad return #hometovote #marref pic.twitter.com/spVfkb5sIT — Naomi O'Leary (@NaomiOhReally) May 22, 2015

Yeah, we’re fine

It’s just…It’s just something in our eyes

On the plane. History here I come! #hometovote pic.twitter.com/VZ6FjBNfrg — Der is voting YES! (@derhoward) May 22, 2015

Right, a lot of somethings

Came #hometovote, my Dad told me to shave my beard and my Mam needs 2 months of tech advice. This better be a Yes. — Paul McDonnell (@Paul_Austin) May 21, 2015

Oh god

Did you hear all the extra planes coming in to land in Dublin really late last night? Fabulous! Full of heroes #hometovote THANK YOU ??????? — Marian Keyes (@MarianKeyes) May 22, 2015

This is fine, we’re not getting over-emotional

In Heathrow airport waiting for a flight to Cork to go #hometovote #MakeGráThelaw pic.twitter.com/ST04TMUQ0t — Debbie O'Neill (@debbiemoneill) May 21, 2015

Oh god oh god oh god

Seriously though, we’re not crying, you’re crying

Came #hometovote all the way from London and found my mum had made some subtle changes to my room for me #VoteYes pic.twitter.com/BOdxqXhJoN — Kevin Beirne (@KevBeirne) May 21, 2015

[incoherent sobbing]

#hometovote come on Ireland! There's a train full of heads on the way to vote yes! pic.twitter.com/muAmrYpq8n — Paulo Reido (@PauloReido) May 22, 2015

Humans are alright, aren’t they

Do you just kind of want to hug all these people right now because we really do

GOOD LUCK IRELAND

I'm so thankful to everyone who's #hometovote. You're the kind of people I wanna grow up to be. — Cíara (@ciaragemmam) May 22, 2015

:’)

The #hometovote is like when you're watching The Hobbit and an army of elves you'd forgotten from earlier in the film arrive over a hill. — Colm O'Regan (@colmoregan) May 21, 2015