Hollywood superstar COLIN FARRELL who has long been an outstanding supporter of gay rights is due to appear on ‘Claire Bryne  Live’ on Irish RTE Television tonight to discuss the issue of same-sex marriage. Farrell was the best man when his brother Eamon married his partner Stephen Mannion in Canada.

In his pre-recorded interview Farrell shares the emotional story of how his brother used to come home with blood on his shirt as he got plenty of beatings for being gay. "He had a very, very, very tough time, a lot of cruelty, like real, absolute shameful cruelty that was placed upon him’.  Farrell goes on to say "To see Eamon and Stephen every day live their lives as a happily married couple is an amazing thing but to think that they had to leave their own country to do that is sad and disappointing and just grossly unfair I feel’

"It’s too easy for heterosexuals to be parents, if you want the truth. It’s too easy. There are too many of us who find it too easy to have a kid. Too many parents around the world don’t parent their kids, because it was a five minute thing...and there it is. We’re talking about Irish society being the best version in any referendum, divorce, same sex marriage, being the best version of ourselves that we can be.

‘I carry Ireland with me everywhere I go, and I love my country deeply. This is my coming out of the closet as it were publicly and saying that I support this vote with every fibre of my being."

Yesterday the Irish Health Minister LEO VARADKAR came out publicly which  has been regarded by many as a boon to the "yes" campaign in a referendum this May on same-sex marriage.