Irish Short Film on Equal Marriage Rights for Same-Sex Couples Storms YouTube

Over 140,000 View Movie with Numbers Continuing to Soar

MarriagEquality, a project of the National Lesbian & Gay Federation (NLGF), is an Atlantic grantee.

Coco Television’s short film, Sinead’s Hand staring Hugh O’Conor has clocked up over 140,000 views to-date since its launch on August 19th with numbers continuing to rise. Advocating for civil marriage rights for same-sex couples in Ireland, Sinead’s Hand, which runs for one minute and forty five seconds, has been an immediate hit with viewers in Ireland and abroad. The film was produced for MarriagEquality and can be viewed at http://www.marriagequality.ie/.

Sinead’s Hand follows the adventures of a young man as he knocks on the doors of Irish homes asking for Sinead’s hand in marriage. The film is accompanied by Lisa Hannigan’s ‘Ocean and a Rock’ and ends asking the question, “How would you feel if you had to ask 4 million people for permission to get married?” with the response, “Lesbians and gay men are denied access to civil marriage in Ireland.”

“The film’s popularity is due in part to the feeling it evokes when people see it. It makes people stop and think about the rights being denied to lesbians and gay men in Ireland. The comments on You Tube have been incredible and so supportive, and to have over 140,000 views is remarkable. Sinead’s Hand has been such a phenomenal hit, we know it’s message will continue to spread and hopefully reach the legislators and make them see that Irish society has changed and our laws needs to catch up. We hope marriage equality for same-sex couples in Ireland comes very soon.”

Further information on the campaign for equal marriage rights for same-sex couples in Ireland can be found on the MarriagEquality website.