On today’s RTE R1 Mooney show, Brenda Donohue reported from the first public same-sex civil partnership ceremony between Barry Dignam and Hugh Walsh. The reaction from listeners was on the whole positive with a few exceptions…
Mooney: “Well it seems not everyone is happy with what we’re broadcasting today. This one says, from Ian: ‘I’ve always enjoyed listening to your programme but, Derek, now you are pandering to political correctness and glorifying homosexualists’ – whatever they are, anyway. ‘Thousands of people like me are disgusted having this pushed down our throat. Let them do their thing in private but don’t be their lobbyist and publicist and forcing this horror on us.’
“Oh my God the world is going to end, Ian. Ian, I don’t know, really don’t know what to say to you. All I can say to you is, do you remember the Afternoon Show – if I’m not mistaken it was back in 2007 – had a competition, the wedding of the year, where couples would write in and say why they wanted to get married live on television – the entire ceremony – and they’d win all sorts of prizes. We’re not even covering the thing live. In fact we weren’t even allowed, and can I just say we wanted to, but we weren’t allowed.
“I don’t see a problem. This is a moment in Irish history, a moment in my opinion, to be welcomed. You’re entitled to your opinion but there is no illegality here. I think, you know, there are times when we have to move on and accept life as it has changed, and life has changed in this country, thank God, and will continue to change. But thank you for your message, nonetheless, and I read it out for you.
“Another one says, ‘Dear Mr Mooney, I’m appalled and disgusted to hear this ungodly and immoral event being given airtime on national radio. I won’t be listening to your show any time in the future,’ says Michael Flood in County Dublin. Thank you very much indeed for that, Michael.”
(Photocall Ireland)