IRELAND: Dublin Gay Bar Crowd Reacts

Clip recap:

The results of the public vote for the Marriage Equality Referendum in Ireland, the first country in the world to approve gay marriage by popular national vote, and it was done with a massive 62% voting yes. The broadcaster, Vincent Brown couldn't even close his broadcast because of the noise of the place singing "Ole Ole". Sorry 'bout the camerawork being all over the place... It's hard to think about recording quality when you're in a moment like that!

IRELAND: Celebration In Dublin

Happy St. Panti's Day!

Wow. @PantiBliss arrives and the crowd chants Panti! Panti! Panti! #MarRef pic.twitter.com/IP7YISn0u3

— Ty Wesley Cobb (@tywesleycobb) May 23, 2015

@PantiBliss media scrum as she arrives at #dublincastle for #MarRef result. #Yes #YesEquality pic.twitter.com/oQhwPJ5Ayb

— Bobby (@bobbysands81) May 23, 2015

.@PantiBliss feeling the love #MarRef pic.twitter.com/DbhCa40XGN

— Conor Humphries.ie (@reutersConorH) May 23, 2015

IRELAND: Right Now In Dublin

UPDATE: It looks like the above UK-based NPR reporter is mistaken and that the photo he tweeted this morning is actually from yesterday. Doesn't matter, we'll take it.

DUBLIN: Taxi App Offers Free Ride To Polls

Taxi app Hailo has wrapped some its drivers' cars in rainbow hues and is offering Dublin residents free rides to the polls on referendum day. They write:

Next Friday 22nd May, we go to the polls to vote on the Marriage Equality Referendum. It’s a huge moment for Ireland – and on reflection of the diverse background of both Ireland’s population and the Hailo team – we want to get people out and #DriveForEquality to the polls. To help get as many people to the polls as possible – and to celebrate our new Prebook feature – we’re offering our customers a free trip to their local polling booth when using the new Hailo Prebook feature between 11am and 4pm on May 22nd. Have you seen one of our Rainbow Warrior cars on the streets of Dublin? Make sure you let us know when you do with #DriveForEquality.

(Tipped by JMG reader Gerard)

DUBLIN: Thousands Attend Marriage Rally

JMG reader Helen sends us the above photo of today's big marriage rally in Dublin, where the crowd of thousands was joined by entertainers and politicians. That's Helen in the red holding the LGBT Noise banner. To Helen's left is her wife. The Irish Mirror reports:

An estimated crowd of nearly 5,000 people gathered at Merrion Square in Dublin for a Yes Equality event organised by LGBT group Noise. Choristers and entertainers, trade unionists and politicians joined the demonstration ahead of this month's vote. Max Krzyzanowski of campaign group Noise said: "This is a historic opportunity for Irish people to be on the right side of history and vote yes." The referendum is due to be held on May 22 when voters will have their say on whether to extend marriage rights to gay couples. The Catholic church has argued for a "no" vote. Archbishop Michael Neary said: "In saying this we are not disparaging anyone, nor are we being disrespectful to same-sex relationships. Despite what we are led to believe this referendum is not about same-sex relationships or about equality, but about the family."

IRELAND: Dublin Students Break World Record In Marriage Equality Event

Via UTV Ireland:

More than 500 people took part in the event to raise awareness for a Yes vote in next month’s Marriage Equality referendum. The event, which was organised by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), took place in Smithfield Square at 12 noon. To meet the requirements of the Guinness World Record, participants had to dress in red, assemble into the shape of a love heart and hold the formation for five minutes. USI president Laura Harmon said: “Our aim today in forming this large group of people into the shape of a Love Heart and setting this new World Record was to highlight what the Marriage Equality Referendum is all about – giving equality before the law to the love between couples whether they are straight or gay. “It was amazing to see over 500 people turning out in the horrible weather with such fantastic enthusiasm. Hopefully the positive energy shown today will translate itself into a Yes vote on 22 May next,” she added.

(Tipped by JMG reader Gerard)

IRELAND: Dublin City Council Calls For Removal Of Marriage Equality Mural

Via the Irish Journal:

A warning letter has been sent from Dublin City Council calling for the giant same-sex marriage mural in Dublin city centre to be removed. The letter was issued to artist Joe Caslin, he confirmed to TheJournal.ie. Councillor Mannix Flynn told TheJournal.ie that the letter concerns the removal of the black-and-white paper mural over a planning issue, and is not due to the content of the mural. Cllr Flynn said that there is “no question” but that the mural will have to removed. He continued: "I’m very much a supporter for the Yes camp, and have been campaigning for a Yes vote. but nonetheless, when you see a building like this and a massive piece this size, the law is the law. If there is a laissez-faire attitude, within a short space of time you’ll see people leasing out and renting out the sides of buildings."

The mural has been an social media sensation since it went up ten days ago. Ireland's marriage referendum is May 22nd.

IRELAND: Drag Star/Activist Panti Bliss Wows Crowd With Dublin TEDx Talk

Andy Towle provides some of the transcript:

"Everyday I am jealous of straight people because that tiny intimate expression of affection has never once been mine...I am jealous of that because gay people do not get to hold hands in public without first considering the risk...We look around to see where are we, who’s around, what kind of place is it…are there bunches of lads outside a pub? ... I’m 45 years old and I have never once casually, comfortably, carelessly held hands with a partner in public... I’m 45 and I’m fed up of putting up so I’m not anymore. I’m 45 years old and I’m not putting up anymore because I don’t have the energy anymore. Putting up is exhausting. I’m 45 years old and I’m not putting up anymore because I don’t have the patience anymore. I was born 6 months before the Stonewall riots and you have had 45 years to work out that despite appearances, I am just as ordinary, just as unremarkable, and just as human as you are. I’m 45 years old and I’m not asking anymore. I am just being…human being."

Watch this.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: Panti Bliss honored as Ireland 2014 Person Of The Year. Panti Bliss hosts Irish prime minister at local gay bar. Pet Shop Boys remix Panti Bliss speech into new single. Panti Bliss marches in Queens St. Patrick's Day Parade. Panti Bliss' anti-homophobia speech at Dublin's Abbey Theater goes globally viral.

IRELAND: Catholic Priest Comes Out During Mass, Urges Support For Marriage

Via the Irish Central:

A Dublin priest received a standing ovation from his congregation this week as he called for same sex marriage equality in Ireland and came out to his parishioners. Father Martin Dolan, who has been a priest at Church of St Nicholas of Myra in Francis Street in Dublin’s city center for 15 years, opened up to his congregation at the Saturday night Mass. He also confided in his Sunday morning congregation. Dolan is the only priest in the parish. Calling on his Dublin city congregation to support same sex marriage in the upcoming Irish referendum, set for the end May, Dolan said “I’m gay myself.” A referendum on same sex marriage will take place at the end of May 2015. Although polls consistently show that over 70 percent of the Irish are in support of gay marriage, campaigners admit that there’s no room for complacency during the run up to the vote. The Dublin Archdiocese declined to comment until they had spoken directly to Dolan. However, the Catholic Church hierarchy in Ireland showed their disdain for the referendum in December 2014. Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin said legalizing same-sex marriage would change the meaning of marriage itself.

The Irish government is supporting a "yes" vote in the referendum.

IRELAND: Prime Minister Visits Gay Bar

Via the Irish Times:

“So there’s An Taoiseach in Pantibar,” a post on the Dublin gay bar’s Facebook page reads over a picture of Enda Kenny who visited the bar last night. “It’s a changed world in many ways.” This was the reaction to the visit by Rory O’Neill, the entertainer and gay rights activist also known as Panti Bliss, who owns the bar where the Taoiseach met with members of the Fine Gael LGBT group during a pre-Christmas get-together. A tweet by Irish Times columnist Una Mullally summed up one Pantibar-goer’s reaction: “Bless,” he said when it was pointed out to him that one of the “suits” in the establishment was in fact the leader of the country. However the online reaction to a photo posted on the bar’s Facebook page showing the Taoiseach pictured with TD Jerry Buttimer, Brian Sheehan of GLEN, and Minister for Children James Reilly was decidedly less subdued and included no small amount of cynicism. “He’s obviously trying to win the pink vote,” one post read. 

Ireland's public referendum on same-sex marriage will take place in May and is expected to pass with overwhelming support. (Tipped by JMG reader Gerard)

Dublin Marches For Marriage Equality

Via the Irish Times:

Thousands of people marched to the Department of Justice in Dublin this afternoon, in favour of extending marriage rights to gay and lesbian people in Ireland. Those behind the sixth annual March for Marriage including LGBT Noise and Marriage Equality said they hoped this would be the biggest - and last - gathering for marriage rights before a referendum on the issue in 2015. Organisers said 8,000 people took part in the march, many of whom held signs reading “equal”. Some dressed in sashes and tiaras after the news that the newly crowned Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh had publicly come out as lesbian. Comedian and writer Tara Flynn, introduced speakers at a stage on St. Stephen’s Green. Ms Flynn recently starred in an LGBT Noise ‘Armagayddon’ video, which went viral internationally.

St. Panti's Day Parade

After her moving and eloquent speech about homophobia went viral, a campaign was launched to name Irish drag queen Panti Bliss as the grand marshal of Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Parade. But the chance of that happening appears to be slim.

Organisers have said that the process to select who leads the parade “is well underway and this year’s Grand Marshal will be unveiled closer to the festival”. A spokesperson for St. Patrick’s Festival said that “at this point it is unlikely” that Panti Bliss will follow Nicky Byrne, Katie Taylor, Johnny Giles, Ronnie Drew as the Grand Marshal of the Dublin parade. The orgainsers say that although the process of choosing the Grand Marshal doesn’t take long, the board is required to meet on the matter.

At least the parade committee didn't diss the idea.

UPDATE: Channel 4 interviewed Panti today.