A Day in May

On the 23rd of May 2015, the people of Ireland made history by becoming the first nation in the world to introduce marriage equality by popular vote. Of the almost 2 million Irish people who went to the polls to cast their vote, a staggering 62% of people voted yes. As the historic vote was declared, the joyous scenes from Dublin Castle and across Ireland made headlines around the world.

The referendum outcome was about more than the votes cast in its favour; the result was about changing the ’real lives’ of the largest minority in Ireland, the LGBT+ Community. The outcome also became a notable achievement for the Irish. The result is something to be proud of, an expression of love and acceptance and a declaration of care and defense for so many Irish men and women who had before felt unequal and unheard.

Colin Murphy’s documentary drama charts the 35-year-old struggle for LGBT+ Rights in Ireland, culminating in the marriage equality referendum, taking in voices from across the whole of Ireland.

Colin Murphy writes plays about politics, and journalism. He is the author of a series of plays on Irish political history: Haughey/Gregory, on the 1982 Gregory Deal＂, Inside the GPO, on the Easter Rising, Guaranteed!, on the bank guarantee of 2008, and Bailed Out!, on the subsequent crisis and Troika ＂bailout＂ of 2010, all produced by Fishamble. He adapted the latter two for screen, as The Guarantee and The Bailout (both produced by John Kelleher Media). He adapted the Charlie Bird book A Day in May for the stage. His verbatim dramas, Jack Duggan’s War and Judging Shaw (based on Fintan O’Toole’s book of the same name) have been staged by ANU Productions. His short film Leave to Remain was made for RTÉ Storyland (produced by Treasure Entertainment). He writes a weekly column for the Sunday Business Post.