“Rural Ireland is not the same rural Ireland that I grew up in. It is the same in lots of ways and it is different in lots of ways,” says Rory O’Neill - known to many as Panti Bliss, his drag queen alter-ego – who has been a contestant on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) since early January.
One difference that is noticeable today, is the presence of inter-county footballers and hurlers who have taken to the dance floor, embraced the fake tan, Cuban heels and a desire to proudly claim the glitter ball for their region.
Such an example has opened up the opportunity for Panti Bliss to hit the DWTS dance floor and pave the way for many more people who are now living in a different rural Ireland.
Back home
Talking with Irish Country Living prior to last Sunday’s show, the vet’s son from Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, recalls being invited home by the local youth club just before the pandemic; they were launching a booklet they produced themselves - a guide to coming out.
Week seven of DWTS Panti had secured immunity from the voting/ Kyran O' Brien
“The lady who used to sell me comics and sweets was sitting on a plastic chair in the front row beside my parents, the local garda was down the back.”
Denys Samson Panti Bliss Dancing with the Stars week 3. / Kyran O' Brien
“A young guy and girl got up and did a speech. He had a Mayo accent and gold nail polish and it just blew my mind that this was the same town I grew up in,” he tells us.
Out on call
As a youngster, lambing season was a favourite time of year for Rory.
“Farmers would be coming in, in the middle of the night with a ewe in trouble. We were allowed get up out of bed and help dad, I used to love that excitement,” he remembers. Other than that, it was typical upland, mixed farming that kept Rory’s dad (Rory O’Neill senior) busy. If a call came in about a horse, Rory and his siblings were particularly willing to assist.
After the leaving certificate, Rory went to art college in Dún Laoghaire, where he came out as being gay. Following a stint in Japan for a few years, Rory returned to Dublin in the mid-1990s and has been there since; making his name as Panti Bliss.
Panti Bliss and Denys Samson Dancing with the Stars series six. / Barry McCall
For years, Rory has advocated for LGBTI+ rights in Ireland and played a key advocating role in the run-up to the historic referendum on marriage equality in 2015. Working for and being part of the gay community in Ireland – and initiating much positive change – Rory has been a support to many.
“Over the years and all the people who I have met, I have yet to meet one single person who has regretted coming out. Coming out improves everybody’s life.”
“That is not to say it is not a difficult step to take, but for the vast majority of cases, it turns out to be easier than your worst fears,” he says encouragingly.
A few years ago, at Dublin Pride, Panti was on duty as landlady in Panti Bar on Capel Street. “This group of young people - maybe in their 20s - turn around and tell me they are all from Ballinrobe and they all knew each other in school as queer people. It blew my mind.”
This is how much things have changed.
Finding his dancing feet
Things have changed greatly for Rory recently too.
Since being paired up with professional dancer Denys Samson in November, Rory tells us they have taken one day off, and otherwise they are working a seven-day week. While rehearsals took up at least seven hours every day, they were kept busy doing interviews, getting fitted for costumes and rehearsing for their group dances too.
Well matched with Denys in terms of stature and frame, Rory admits he landed on his feet with his pro-partner.
“He is a big straight bloke from eastern Europe and he is totally comfortable in himself and is totally unbothered by my carry on.”
Panti Bliss Rory O'Neill Dancing with the Stars. / Barry McCall
“We would get the Luas to the studios and when the older ladies recognised Denys, they would try pinching his cheeks! He is great craic,” Rory laughs.
Rory might now get to spend a few days in his runners; whereas when they began a new dance each week, Denyswould let Rory practice in his runners for only one day before insisting the dancing shoes must go on.
“They make everything harder. The girls generally have it harder because dancing in heels add another level of difficulty that the boys don’t even imagine.”
“I definitely had it harder than the other boys for sure. My call time is two and a half hours before any of the other guys to do the special effects make-up and the wig,” he tells us.
With such a commitment to the dancefloor, how did Rory manage to leave PantiBar?
“We opened just before the financial crash, so the first few years were extremely difficult but thankfully it is running efficiently. I spent an awful lot of time there; I spent a lot of time worrying about it,” he tells us and credits the great team holding the fort; the general manager has been there since day one and plenty of staff are there over ten years.
It is not just the LGBTI+ community who Rory is inspiring. For anyone whose challenge in life is to live with a compromised immune system, Panti showed us that, yes, yes, it is possible to get up there and dance your socks off.
“HIV is very easily managed; I literally take one pill with my breakfast and that is it for the day,” he explains.
Other than dealing with the physical tiredness that comes with suddenly accelerating from doing an hour at the gym once or twice a week, to spending most of the week exercising, Rory has no concerns. Being no more physically tired than any of the other contestants, Panti and the celebs take advantage of the on-site physiotherapist for show time each weekend.
The beat of the music
Did he get tired of listening to the song they dance to each week?
“A lot of the rehearsing, we are not actually listening to the song because the dancers are all about timing and beats,” he explains.
With the pro-dancers focusing on the tempo, they go at a slower rate first, it is only for the last few days that they really practice to the song.
“You are concentrating so much on what you are doing, I am surprised that I don’t hate the songs by the end of the week.”
Overall, Rory tells us “It’s been super fun and exciting. It was also full-on and sometimes frustrating when it was harder to get things right.”
With family up from Mayo and Galway every Sunday night showing their support, Rory is proud to have been the last remaining contestant from west of the Shannon.
“We did our best to keep the glitter ball out of those jackeen hands!”
Urging us to unite “and keep the glitter ball out of those jackeen hands,” Panti and Denys you did many people proud.
Read more
Community worker in east Cork, living in west Cork: meet Hayley Fox-Roberts
No easy ride
“Rural Ireland is not the same rural Ireland that I grew up in. It is the same in lots of ways and it is different in lots of ways,” says Rory O’Neill - known to many as Panti Bliss, his drag queen alter-ego – who has been a contestant on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) since early January.
One difference that is noticeable today, is the presence of inter-county footballers and hurlers who have taken to the dance floor, embraced the fake tan, Cuban heels and a desire to proudly claim the glitter ball for their region.
Such an example has opened up the opportunity for Panti Bliss to hit the DWTS dance floor and pave the way for many more people who are now living in a different rural Ireland.
Back home
Talking with Irish Country Living prior to last Sunday’s show, the vet’s son from Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, recalls being invited home by the local youth club just before the pandemic; they were launching a booklet they produced themselves - a guide to coming out.
Week seven of DWTS Panti had secured immunity from the voting/ Kyran O' Brien
“The lady who used to sell me comics and sweets was sitting on a plastic chair in the front row beside my parents, the local garda was down the back.”
Denys Samson Panti Bliss Dancing with the Stars week 3. / Kyran O' Brien
“A young guy and girl got up and did a speech. He had a Mayo accent and gold nail polish and it just blew my mind that this was the same town I grew up in,” he tells us.
Out on call
As a youngster, lambing season was a favourite time of year for Rory.
“Farmers would be coming in, in the middle of the night with a ewe in trouble. We were allowed get up out of bed and help dad, I used to love that excitement,” he remembers. Other than that, it was typical upland, mixed farming that kept Rory’s dad (Rory O’Neill senior) busy. If a call came in about a horse, Rory and his siblings were particularly willing to assist.
After the leaving certificate, Rory went to art college in Dún Laoghaire, where he came out as being gay. Following a stint in Japan for a few years, Rory returned to Dublin in the mid-1990s and has been there since; making his name as Panti Bliss.
Panti Bliss and Denys Samson Dancing with the Stars series six. / Barry McCall
For years, Rory has advocated for LGBTI+ rights in Ireland and played a key advocating role in the run-up to the historic referendum on marriage equality in 2015. Working for and being part of the gay community in Ireland – and initiating much positive change – Rory has been a support to many.
“Over the years and all the people who I have met, I have yet to meet one single person who has regretted coming out. Coming out improves everybody’s life.”
“That is not to say it is not a difficult step to take, but for the vast majority of cases, it turns out to be easier than your worst fears,” he says encouragingly.
A few years ago, at Dublin Pride, Panti was on duty as landlady in Panti Bar on Capel Street. “This group of young people - maybe in their 20s - turn around and tell me they are all from Ballinrobe and they all knew each other in school as queer people. It blew my mind.”
This is how much things have changed.
Finding his dancing feet
Things have changed greatly for Rory recently too.
Since being paired up with professional dancer Denys Samson in November, Rory tells us they have taken one day off, and otherwise they are working a seven-day week. While rehearsals took up at least seven hours every day, they were kept busy doing interviews, getting fitted for costumes and rehearsing for their group dances too.
Well matched with Denys in terms of stature and frame, Rory admits he landed on his feet with his pro-partner.
“He is a big straight bloke from eastern Europe and he is totally comfortable in himself and is totally unbothered by my carry on.”
Panti Bliss Rory O'Neill Dancing with the Stars. / Barry McCall
“We would get the Luas to the studios and when the older ladies recognised Denys, they would try pinching his cheeks! He is great craic,” Rory laughs.
Rory might now get to spend a few days in his runners; whereas when they began a new dance each week, Denyswould let Rory practice in his runners for only one day before insisting the dancing shoes must go on.
“They make everything harder. The girls generally have it harder because dancing in heels add another level of difficulty that the boys don’t even imagine.”
“I definitely had it harder than the other boys for sure. My call time is two and a half hours before any of the other guys to do the special effects make-up and the wig,” he tells us.
With such a commitment to the dancefloor, how did Rory manage to leave PantiBar?
“We opened just before the financial crash, so the first few years were extremely difficult but thankfully it is running efficiently. I spent an awful lot of time there; I spent a lot of time worrying about it,” he tells us and credits the great team holding the fort; the general manager has been there since day one and plenty of staff are there over ten years.
It is not just the LGBTI+ community who Rory is inspiring. For anyone whose challenge in life is to live with a compromised immune system, Panti showed us that, yes, yes, it is possible to get up there and dance your socks off.
“HIV is very easily managed; I literally take one pill with my breakfast and that is it for the day,” he explains.
Other than dealing with the physical tiredness that comes with suddenly accelerating from doing an hour at the gym once or twice a week, to spending most of the week exercising, Rory has no concerns. Being no more physically tired than any of the other contestants, Panti and the celebs take advantage of the on-site physiotherapist for show time each weekend.
The beat of the music
Did he get tired of listening to the song they dance to each week?
“A lot of the rehearsing, we are not actually listening to the song because the dancers are all about timing and beats,” he explains.
With the pro-dancers focusing on the tempo, they go at a slower rate first, it is only for the last few days that they really practice to the song.
“You are concentrating so much on what you are doing, I am surprised that I don’t hate the songs by the end of the week.”
Overall, Rory tells us “It’s been super fun and exciting. It was also full-on and sometimes frustrating when it was harder to get things right.”
With family up from Mayo and Galway every Sunday night showing their support, Rory is proud to have been the last remaining contestant from west of the Shannon.
“We did our best to keep the glitter ball out of those jackeen hands!”
Urging us to unite “and keep the glitter ball out of those jackeen hands,” Panti and Denys you did many people proud.
Read more
Community worker in east Cork, living in west Cork: meet Hayley Fox-Roberts
No easy ride
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