‘The Queen of Ireland’ documentary needs your help!

Earlier this year, The Queen of Ireland, Panti Bliss shot to international prominence overnight after her Noble Call captured the world’s attention.

The video of the speech threw Rory O’Neill, the man behind the make-up, into the role of accidental activist. A couple of million views later, Ireland’s top drag queen has taken up that activist baton, and run as fast as her 6-inch heels could carry her. She is, in her own words, “a court jester, whose duty is to say the un- sayable”.

The Queen of Ireland is a documentary film that follows Rory’s journey from the small Mayo town of Ballinrobe to strutting her stuff on the world stage.

The Queen of Ireland directed by Conor Horgan (One Hundred Mornings, Deep End Dance, The Beholder) and produced by Blinder Films (The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology, Citadel, One Hundred Mornings), the documentary has so far been in creation for approximately four years, and will continue right up until the proposed same-sex marriage referendum in 2015.

The film builds an in-depth picture of a complex and compelling character through behind-the-scenes footage, archive, music and interviews with friends, peers and protégés. It has also been born out of commitment to the Equal Rights movement in Ireland, and a longing to document the changes that are rapidly occurring.

This is where the public’s assistance is needed. The team have done Trojan work over the last four years on a shoestring budget. To continue filming, funds are required for things such as equipment, music and archive licensing, interviewees and all the work that will go into getting this documentary over the finish line.

The The Queen of Ireland team have set up an Indie Go-Go page to appeal for the public’s assistance. This website allows people to donate any amount, anonymously or not, to this fantastic cause. There are even perk packages available, depending on how much you donate. Ranging from film merchandise to exclusive screenings, these perks are a fantastic way to get involved in the documentary, even after you’ve donated.

The Queen of Ireland is not just about Panti Bliss the performer, or Rory O’Neill the accidental activist. It is about how one man in a dress has mobilised a nation and an international community to stand up and fight against injustice. To tell this story, we need your help.

Check out our campaign on Indie Go-Go. Here you’ll find more info on the film and the campaign. Also join us Twitter and Facebook and help us to document this historical moment in Irish history.