Róisín Meets: Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan

A month after the Yes vote was carried in the same-sex marriage referendum, Senator Katherine Zappone and her wife Ann Louise Gilligan talked to Róisín Ingle about life post-referendum and their excitement about the Pride celebrations this weekend.

Interviewed on the Róisín Meets podcast, former nun Gilligan said for the first time the Pride celebrations around the country would be in celebration rather than anticipation of equality: “We’ve moved from anticipation to this moment of celebration because it is now real.”

She also spoke of her hopes for young members of the LGTBQ community growing up in Ireland.

Washington-born Zappone, who recently announced she would be standing for the Dáil in Dublin South-West in the next general election, confirmed she is still in talks with other Independent candidates about joining an alliance.

“Yes I have had conversations with other independent public representatives over a period of time and those conversations will probably continue. I don’t know where those will lead.”

She said she was hopeful about taking a seat, but when quizzed about clientelism in Irish politics, she said she “may or may not” be interested in fixing potholes for constituency members if elected.

Róisín Meets is a weekly podcast presented by Róisín Ingle and produced by Declan Conlon. You can subscribe to the show or download individual episodes via Soundcloud, iTunes and Stitcher.