This documentary from film maker Conor Horgan ('One Hundred Mornings') is a journey of gay rights in Ireland as seen through the experiences of the undoubted Queen of Ireland Rory O'Neil aka Panti Bliss.It uses archive material and footage filmed for the film to tell us his life story and the ups and downs of being gay in Ireland. We also have pieces from Senator David Norris – 'The first gay man in Ireland' who still carries the torch of equality. Alongside the personal story we also get Ireland's road to referendum on changing the constitution to allow gay marriage and the fanatical opposition from certain parts of society. The whole film holds together incredibly well and is in parts uplifting, moving, frustrating and very human.The serious side to life is brought to the fore which is a real juxtaposition of the role of a drag queen, which as Rory O'Neil explains is akin to that of an old time court jester – often saying the things that others steer away from, making fun of them and spreading mirth and joy. He is a marvellous man and I have to admit Panti Bliss is a stunning woman. He will brighten up any room that is lucky enough t have him/her grace it. A truly wonderful film and now I shall stop gushing and go and straighten up my mascara.

Yes I finally got to see this today! I absolutely enjoyed this documentary because well, where would you find a documentary film about a drag queen in Ireland?! I honestly loved how he told his story to really be aware of who he is. I would describe him as a sweetheart who is brave and isn't an attention seeker. He used his speeches to really reflect on people who aren't proud of who they are. I mean we all shouldn't be afraid to show our true colors but at the end of the day, it's up to all of us to do that!I am glad that it showed the day of Ireland becoming the first country to now allow same-sex marriages back in May of this year. It is very emotional when you never experienced a pride in Dublin before and you see people with such light on their faces because no referendum was a big deal until this. If I wasn't living out in the countryside and not in college that Friday, I would've loved to have taken part with the massive crowd lol. Panti should definitely gain a noble prize of her speeches, you normally don't get a famous Irish person of doing speeches. She is an inspiration for Ireland!

Although Panti Bliss has performed in cities all over the world I wonder just how well known she is outside of Ireland and by that I mean within gay circles, outside of which I am sure she is virtually unheard of. Here, of course, she is simply The Queen of Ireland, an iconic figure known the length and breadth of the land, a gay icon and a 'heroine' to the Irish people. 'She', of course, is a he for Panti is a drag artist who in 'real life' is a handsome, slightly rugged small-town boy called Rory O'Neill who might have passed into obscurity, like so many drag artists before him, were it not for a few crucial events, both in his life and in the life and fabric of Irish society.Firstly 'Panti' appeared on RTE's Saturday Night Television show where his comments lead to law suits being taken out against the station leading to an out-of-court settlement and a public apology. This, in turn, lead to a public outcry and an attack on the validity of the Irish media by members of the Irish parliament and to Panti being invited to address the audience, in the form of a Noble Call speech, at Ireland's Abbey Theatre, (filmed naturally and subsequently going viral on Youtube). After this, it only seemed natural Panti would become the poster 'girl' for the Yes Campaign in the Equality referendum that lead to Ireland being the first country in the world to vote yes for same sex marriage. Panti's role in the campaign was almost certainly the defining reason for the massive yes vote.All of this and more is chronicled in Conor Horgan's terrific documentary "The Queen of Ireland" which begins on the day of the vote then takes us back, via home movies and various other footage, through Panti/Rory's life. This is a funny, deeply moving picture of one boy's life in the first instance and of a history of the Gay Right's Movement in Ireland in the second, making it a wonderful historical, as well as a wonderfully personal record, fueled by its tremendously likable central character.Panti is, of course, the ideal drag queen; funny, eccentric and so over-the-top she's already half down the other side, a cartoon woman as she describes herself, part Betty Boop and part Jessica Rabbit while Rory, her real-life alter-ego, is the sweetest of men who simply can't believe his own good fortune and who has taken the blows that life has dealt him with a self-regarding shrug and a 'let's get on with it' attitude. Of course, as a gay man growing up in rural Ireland he was blessed with a highly supportive family and a community that was more embracing than not, (his return to his home town in the guise of Panti is one of the film's highlights). Here is a 'gay' movie with the widest possible appeal which certainly shouldn't be missed and could well push Horgan towards a Best Documentary Oscar next year.

This film is atrocious. It follows the exploits of Rory ' Panti Bliss' O'Neill, the self-proclaimed Nelson Mandela to the 'Yes' vote. Rory is well known in Ireland for running the most popular gay bar in the country as well as being known for his 'drag act'.With a referendum in Ireland on the definition of marriage and if gay people would be protected too under this religious definition, Rory knew he had to stand up and make a quick profit. He dressed himself up and took himself to the streets of Dublin, where he would hijack marches and force himself to the front as to appear he had organised a people's movement.Thanks to social media and good PR, Rory was successful in his exploits of a nation and his pub soon profited, as did he. He was no longer seen as a gay pub owner, he has somehow managed to launch him self as a somewhat political socialite who would make appearance after appearance on RTÉ. Ultimately, Rory's plan had worked.He thought that by being a drag queen, it gave him the right to represent every gay man in the country, when in fact he just managed to label them all as a stereotype further. Thankfully, Ireland has modern morales and passed the vote without needing Panti to leech from the campaign.I highly recommended that you do not pay money to see this film. Do not watch it for free either. It is literally released to profit Rory's high life yet again. There are 100's of ways to promote and encourage LBGT. This man is not one of them.