He is just 38. He is gay. He is the son of an Indian immigrant. And he’s a sign of how much the Republic of Ireland has changed in recent decades from a conservative nation dominated by the Catholic Church into a multicultural society where you’re as likely to be served a pint of Guinness by a bartender from Latvia as one from Limerick

As Leo Varadkar was celebrating becoming Ireland's next Prime Minister, some 4,700 miles away his relatives in India were also cheering on the country's first openly gay leader.

More than 50 of his family members gathered in Borivli, in north Mumbai, watched late into the night as the vote was counted on Friday, handing out sweets to friends and neighbours when the victory was confirmed.