Rory O'Neill grew up in Ballinrobe, a small town in County Mayo in the rural West of Ireland, where his father worked as a vet. He is an Irish entertainer, specializing in female impersonations. He was actively campaigning for gay rights in the run up to the referendum on marriage equality for same-sex couples in Ireland. He is also known under his stage name Panti or Panti Bliss. In 2015, a documentary with the title The Queen of Ireland (2015) was made about him.