Ireland Said Yes

Panti Bliss

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:01:00 GMT

In the final episode of the series, Shane chats to Irish royalty - Panti Bliss - aka Rory O'Neill. Panti talks about growing up gay in rural Ireland, their early days of drag, a changing Dublin and their incredible speech at the Abbey Theatre that went global. Thank you so much for listening to this series, it has been a passion project for everyone involved and a true honour to feature so many inspiring voices. Le grá, le chéile - Paul and Shane xoxox

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Mary McAleese

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:01:00 GMT

In this special chat, former President of Ireland Mary McAleese talks with Shane about her pivotal involvement in the 2015 referendum, being an LGBT parent and how the Catholic Church still needs to change.

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Katherine O'Donnell

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Paul Macgregor (Series Producer) chats to academic, activist and author Katherine O'Donnell about her memories of 2015, before and beyond. Katherine is Professor of the History of Ideas at UCD School of Philosophy. She has been an activist for many years, specialising in feminist justice issues and LGBTQ+ activism. She was a co-founding member of the Irish Lesbian and Gay Archive, now deposited as a living archive with the National Library of Ireland. She works with the Justice for Magdalenes Research group, who were instrumental in having the State issue an apology to the victims and survivors of the Magdalene Institutions, and in successfully lobbying for the Magdalene Redress Scheme. In 2023, she published her first novel Slant, which was shortlisted for the 2024 Kate O’Brien Award.

Photograph of Katherine O'Donnell courtesy of Emma Jervis.

https://www.instagram.com/emmajervisphoto

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Ranae von Meding

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 23:01:00 GMT

Recorded in June 2025, Shane chats to campaigner Ranae von Meding about their ongoing fight for equality for LGBT parents in Ireland and the legal limbo that many queer Irish families often find themselves in, as parents struggle for recognition if they have children through donor conception or surrogacy.

After a lengthy delay, the Oireachtas joint committee on health made recommendations in October 2025 on its report on pre-legislative scrutiny of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (Amendment) Bill. The committee made 18 recommendations in total, including that the bill must include a process to recognise the parentage of those who had children through surrogacy while domiciled abroad. The report stated that provision should also be made to offer a path to parenthood for Irish citizens returning home who are in same sex relationships and whose children were both conceived and born abroad in countries that don’t recognise both same sex parents. Strikingly, the committee also recommended that there should be a path to parenthood for children of same sex female couples who are conceived outside of clinical settings. This is a scenario which to date, the government and the Minister for Health has currently rejected, despite it being the lived reality of many members of the LGBT community.

More updates on Ranae's campaign, please visit: https://www.instagram.com/equalityforchildren

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Brian Sheehan

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Brian Sheehan talks to Shane Daniel Byrne about his pivotal role in 2015 as Co-Director of Yes Equality - he also discusses the behind-the-scenes drama among Irish LGBT activists divided over Civil Partnership Act five years earlier and why it was an important part of the process.

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Philly McMahon

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 23:01:00 GMT

Shane chats to Philly McMahon, award-winning playwright and co-director of THISISPOPBABY, about his memories of 2015 and beyond.

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Katherine Zappone

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 23:01:00 GMT

As she release her new memoir 'Love In a Time of Politics', Shane chats to Katherine Zappone about her groundbreaking time as a campaigner and politician.

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Sinéad Walsh

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Shane talks to fellow queer comedian Sinéad Walsh about their memories of growing up in Ireland and more.

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Ruadhán Ó Críodáin

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 23:01:00 GMT

Ruadhán Ó Críodáin talks to Shane about their memories of 2015 and what's next for Ireland's vulnerable trans community.

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Brendan Courtney

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Shane talks to broadcaster Brendan Courtney to talk about growing up gay in Dublin, living with homophobic abuse and becoming one of the most visible queer people on Irish TV, along with his memories of 2015 referendum.

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Seán Munsanje

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Shane Daniel Byrne chats to broadcaster Seán Munsanje about growing up gay in Ireland, the importance of queer representation in the media and his recollections of 2015.

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Pillow Queens

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Shane chats to Pam and Sarah from Pillow Queens, an award-winning and critically acclaimed queer band from Dublin.

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Conor Behan

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Shane talks to RTÉ 2FM broadcaster and pop culture expert Conor Behan about his memories of 2015 and beyond.

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Lisa Connell

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Shane sits down with the charming and outspoken force behind LGBT Noise, GCN magazine and co-founder of queer club night Mother - the legend that is Lisa Connell.

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Davina Devine

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Shane talks to Davina Devine about their hilarious memories of 2015 and how they became drag royalty.

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David Carroll

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Shane talks to activist David Carroll about his recollections of 2015; his marriage in Canada when it still wasn't legal in Ireland and surviving the horrors of the 1980s.

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Gráinne Healy

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Shane Daniel Byrne talks to the genius behind the successful Yes vote in 2015, Gráinne Healy. She talks about the campaign tactics, the initial setbacks and her huge legacy 10 years later.

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Una Mullally

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Shane talks to celebrated author and Irish Time journalist Una Mullally about her personal reflections on the 2015. Shane discusses Una's perspective on the divisions within the LGBTQ+ community around the push for civil partnerships; the strategic approach of the "Yes" campaign, and the key involvement of unexpected public figures like former President Mary McAleese. Una reflects on her personal experience of being diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and how that intertwined with her campaigning for Marriage Equality.

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Joe Caslin

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Shane chats to acclaimed artist Joe Caslin about his beautiful artwork, which became the defining imagery of 2015 Marriage Referendum. Joe talks about the mural's origins, the inside help that he received to stay out of the courts, his teaching career, growing up in Roscommon, and what Joe now believes is important for today's LGBT+ youth.

See more of Joe's work here:

https://joecaslin.com/pages/equality

https://www.instagram.com/joecaslin/?hl=en

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Ailbhe Smyth

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In the first bonus episode of Ireland Said Yes, Shane talks to veteran activist Ailbhe Smyth. She discusses her memories of the 2015 Marriage Referendum, how she's won and lost campaigns, and what advice Ailbhe would give future generations of Irish LGBT+ activists.

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Episode Four - We Live in Each Other's Shadows

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 21:42:33 GMT

In the final episode of the series, the votes are now in and the count centres suggest an incoming landslide for the Yes side. Shane talks to the people who made it all possible, as he reflects on the tears, the exhaustion and sheer euphoria. Ten years later from that day in May, Shane asks how far have we really come and what’s now important for Ireland’s LBGT+ community?

Thank you all for lovely comments on the series. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be releasing bonus episodes featuring highlights of Shane’s conversations with interviewed guests.

If you’ve enjoyed Ireland Said Yes, please review and subscribe, plus, let people know to give us a listen.

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Episode Three - Bealtaine

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 22:32:09 GMT

In the third episode of Ireland Said Yes, comedian Shane Daniel Byrne reflects on a frantic and often emotional period where the Yes Equality campaign attempted to galvanise the entire country to win Marriage Equality for Ireland’s LGBT community. Shane speaks to Yes activists from all walks of life who all played a part in 2015 - he learns about the key ‘million in the middle’ whose votes were up for grabs, which person was the most trusted voice in Ireland (hint: she’s a camp icon) and how campaigners handled a relentless and intense press campaign. As the vote on May 22nd draws closer and the polls begin to tighten, Shane discovers how Ireland’s youth turned up to play their part. But will it be enough?

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Episode Two - Why Go for Something Less?

Wed, 28 May 2025 23:01:48 GMT

In the second episode of Ireland Said Yes, comedian Shane Daniel Byrne examines the key early moments that shaped Ireland’s path to achieving marriage equality. Beginning with the story of Katherine Zappone and Anne Louise Gilligan whose legal battle to have their Canadian marriage recognised in Ireland—best known as the KAL case—brought the issue of equality into public focus. Shane explores how their fight laid the groundwork for incremental change, even when the larger public remained unconvinced. The episode also traces the introduction of civil partnerships in 2011, highlighting the fierce debate within the LGBTQIA+ community over whether they were a necessary step, or an unacceptable compromise. Shane also revisits Panti Bliss’s viral 2014 speech - The Noble Call - which sparked a national conversation on homophobia and helped shift public opinion favourably towards the 2015 referendum.

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Episode One - Above the Parapet

Wed, 21 May 2025 22:08:37 GMT

In 2015, Ireland made history by becoming the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote. But how did a predominantly Catholic nation decide to embrace LGBT equality and inclusion in such a profound and historical way? Over the course of four episodes, comedian and actor Shane Daniel Byrne takes us back to the beginning of this transformative journey, reflecting on his own memories and experiences as a young gay man in Dublin discovering his own sexuality. Shane explores the decades of activism, protests, and personal sacrifices that paved the way for future generations, collecting a tapestry of rich stories that shaped Ireland’s social and cultural evolution. In episode one, Shane explores the silence and stigma that once surrounded queer lives to the decline of the Catholic Church’s influence, featuring reflections from voices like former President Mary McAleese, drag royalty Panti Bliss and Irish Times journalist Una Mullally among others.

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Trailer - Ireland Said Yes

Thu, 15 May 2025 15:04:10 GMT

Comedian Shane Daniel Byrne celebrate 10 years of marriage equality in 'Ireland Said Yes'. He'll take you on an emotional journey exploring the decades-long fight for same-sex marriage. From the deeply personal stories of LGBTQIA activism and resistance, Shane explores the cultural changes that eventually made the historic 2015 referendum possible. Shane interviews the key players and unsung heroes of the Yes campaign, including drag royalty Panti Bliss, former President of Ireland Mary McAleese and TV presenter Brendan Courtney among many others. The series includes Shane’s personal reflections and standup live from his sell-out run at Vicar Street in Dublin, as he revisits a time that reshaped his life and transformed Ireland completely.

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