The Irish have spoken. Word went out across the EU from early yesterday. Lisbon is saved. The EU lives to fight another day. Raise a glass to the Irishes and their funny ways with referendums.

Once again, the Irish people affirmed a European treaty at the second time of asking. In air-conditioned rooms in Brussels they are now devising ways to get Ireland to ratify treaties in the future. The plan will be to hold a phoney referendum first in order to let the Irish people let off some steam by voting No. Soothing noises will then be made, reassurances proffered and concessions guaranteed. Then, with the citizens' egos suitably massaged, they will be asked to vote again, but get it right this time.

So it went for Friday's vote. The electorate got their act together and did their duty.

From early yesterday, as boxes were opened and tallies mounted, there was only going to be one result. Yes, as Molly Bloom once had it, Yes, Yes, Yes. Molly, girl, we're all good Europeans now.

One of the greater Europeans was up and at it from the off. Garret FitzGerald may be in his ninth decade but he has lost none of his appetite for the hurly burly of politics.

When they opened the first boxes in the RDS, Garret was on hand to cast his eye over the tallies.

The early tallies sucked all life out of the count. From 10am the result was secure. There was nothing else to do but begin with the analysis. Where did it go right? Where did it go wrong?

One man who was willing to dive straight into the analysis was Declan Ganley. He arrived at the RDS accompanied by his wife. A media scrum quickly formed around the couple before they could even reach the front door. Ganley announced, in the manner of a party leader at election time, that he was conceding defeat. All sweetness and light, he professed his admiration for Brian Cowen. This was the same Brian Cowen he had lampooned on the poster bearing the legend: "The only job Lisbon will save is his". Now, in defeat, Decy sounded like a man who might one day allow his name to go forward for a Fianna Fáil nomination.

"I would like to congratulate Brian Cowen," he said. "He has a large endorsement for his leadership. Politically, he ran a superb campaign."

Suddenly, his spiel was interrupted by another No voice. Richard Greene of Cóir urged Ganley not to concede the Lisbon treaty as the Czech Republic had not yet ratified it. Greene launched into his own spiel. Confusion now reigned. Whose show was this?

After a few seconds, Ganley regained his composure and galloped on. He then offered up a strange beast – a post-poll promise. He said he would be back at the RDS in exactly one year's time to host a press conference to monitor whether Lisbon had delivered jobs as the Yes side said it would. Ganley won't go away, you know.

Over at the central count centre in Dublin Castle, the going was soft. Right up until mid afternoon, there was but a trickle of political or campaigning figures from either side. They came, visited RTE's tented city in the courtyard, broadcast to the nation, and left again.

Inside St Patrick's Hall, all was quiet. From early afternoon, results from around the country were being fed through. A trend was detectable. In nearly all constituencies, there was a swing of up to 20% to the Yes side. Nationally, the breakdown was coming in at two to one for the Yes side.

Soon after 2pm, the double decker buses left for Government Buildings. The leader was going to speak to the nation now that the nation had decided to do the right thing.

Half an hour later he walked down the steps of Government Buildings accompanied by Micheál Martin, John Gormley, Dick Roche and Mary Harney.

Cowen was entitled to savour a rare victory. "Today, the Irish people have spoken with a clear and resounding voice," he said, although this was also the case 15 months ago.

"Today, we have said to the other countries of Europe that we stand with them as we seek to move forward… on this day the full and final credit rests with the Irish people." Democracy, when it works the way you want it, is a beautiful thing.

Back at the castle word filtered through that Enda was on his way. He arrived to tumultuous applause. He stood before the castle gates and congratulated himself and the Irish people. A Viking bus tour passed in the background, and cheered the gathering.

"Yes to Vikings," somebody shouted. As Enda got motoring on his spiel there was another kerfuffle. The Shinners had arrived. Led by Gerry Adams they pushed their way through the media scrum.

Then the blueshirts had a 'balloon release', of dozens of yellow balloons with Yes written on them. At this stage, any sane person would be saying, no, no, no, please no more. Enda obligingly looked to the sky as the balloons sailed away on gust of wind. One day that man will be Taoiseach.

Inside, down in the dungeons, reporters from across the continent sent the word back home. The Irishes have spoken. This time they say they mean it. But don't rule out another rerun to see who wins the best of three.