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.

Ireland Said Yes is an Onic Original.

Written and Presented by Shane Daniel Byrne.

Developed and Produced by Series Producer, Paul Macgregor.

Audio design, mixing, and sound editing - Fionn O'Brien and Paul Macgregor.

Visual design - Stephen King O'Farrell and Conor Daly.

News archive, courtesy of RTE, Virgin Media, BBC, Channel 4 News, CNN, Euronews, Getty Images and Associated Press. Archive images and video courtesy of Getty Images.

Music and sound effects courtesy of Audio Network and Epidemic Sound.

Legal Counsel - Hugh Hannigan and Claire Telford.

Executive Producer - Sasha Hamrogue.

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