Could Ireland’s mammy-in-chief pull off a victory for equal marriage?
Brendan O’Carroll, creator and star of the hit BBC1 comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys, has filmed a playful video calling on Irish voters to support same-sex marriage in Ireland at the referendum on 22 May, with Mrs Brown sending a touching message of support to parents of gay children.
The video has gone viral, with more than 2m views and more than 68,000 shares on Facebook alone.
“When two people love each other, you should allow them to get married. What’s all the fecking fuss?” Mrs Brown says, using the colourful language that has become the show’s trademark.
This Mrs. Brown's Boys #YesToEquality video is lovely & a big shout out to a generation that may need a nudge: https://t.co/6zClhcVhAW
— Aisling Bea (@WeeMissBea) April 29, 2015
Can't share this brilliant video from Mr.s Brown enough on the equal marriage referendum in Ireland on 22nd May http://t.co/3RqdrhSCGK
— James Wharton (@jameswharton) April 29, 2015
The film begins with Agnes Brown in her familiar armchair. “I’d like to talk to you today about midget equality … ” Mrs Brown begins, before her gay son Rory hastily corrects her.
She mentions how growing up during the Troubles has influenced her support for marriage equality. “When I was a young girl there was a big hoo-ha about mixed marriages – Catholics marrying Protestants, black people marrying white people, but you know what? They still got married and the world didn’t end,” she chuckles.
“We all grew up a bit. And we all have to grow up a bit now. Marriage isn’t easy. Changing the law isn’t easy, and changing attitudes is even harder. But we can do it, we’ve done it before and the world didn’t end.”
Looking directly at the camera, she continues: “I know some of you think it’s not right. All I can tell you from my experience is I can’t describe the joy I feel to see my son Rory having the same opportunity for happiness as everybody else’s son.”
The Sunday Business Post reported polling at the weekend showing that 72% of Irish voters were in favour and 20% against the proposal to introduce same-sex marriage.
