A Pride of Prides | Pocketmags.com
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In this edition
FROM THE TEAM
Welcome, dear reader, to the December/January edition of GCN, an issue that serves the double purpose of closing out one year and welcoming in another.
NXF UPDATE
The National LGBT Federation (NXF) is glad to report that the long-awaited Hate Offences Bill was moved forward by Government in recent weeks.
HOMEWORKS
Fionn Kidney of the non-profit social enterprise Common Knowledge shares information on an essential new project which creates space for LGBTQ+ people to bring climate action home to Irish communities
A Pride of Prides
When Nicole Lee moved to Ireland in 2020, one of the things she was most excited about was Dublin Pride. When 2022 arrived, she decided to go all-out by attending not one, but five different Prides.
My Love Letter to the Punk Community
‘Punk is not dead.’ Al Fartukh heard this phrase far too many times before they even knew what punk was. They wrote it on bathroom walls, school books and even dreamed of having a tattoo of the phrase when they were a preteen, but they can now confidently say that it sure as hell is more alive than ever.
RED CARD
On December 2, 2010, former FIFA President Sepp Blatter revealed that Qatar would be the host nation for the men’s World Cup in 2022. Alice Linehan reports on how that decision has affected queer players and fans of football
Mind Matters
As the weather gets colder and the days shorter, those of us with seasonal depression, anxiety and other issues are bound to notice increased symptoms. But, as Ethan Moser explains, it would be remiss not to mention that LGBTQ+ folks are more likely to suffer from mental health issues than our cis-het counterparts.
Northern Star
Damian Kerlin takes a closer look at that jewel in the crown of Belfast’s queer nightlife, the much-loved Kremlin.
A SEAT AT THE TABLE
Whether you consider yourself young or old, ageing is something that affects us all. Han Tiernan talks about an essential roundtable discussion which happened as part of the Outburst Queer Arts Fest.
ELDERING
The god Thor was once beaten in an arm wrestle by a very aged crone, the tale illustrating that age will always defeat youth and vigour in the end. El’s suggestion of looking to our own folklore, such as the idea of Tír na nÓg, when thinking about time passing, was introduced during an online round table interview that Rita Wild hosted in November of behalf of GCN.
Outhouse
Antisocial Media
In October of this year, Elon Musk fulfilled the prophecy of his acquisition of Twitter, entering the company’s headquarters wielding a sink and a promise to become a “free speech absolutist”. Joe Drennan looks at the social media platform’s freefall since and its stark rise in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.
A MESSAGE FROM THE STATE
After years of campaigning for appropriate legislation to protect marginalised groups, the Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences Bill 2022 is going through its second stage in the Dáil. The majority of EU countries already have existing legislation and in the current climate of increasing hate, Beatrice Fanucci echoes the voices who say it’s past time for Ireland to take action.
FINE ART
Living in a predominantly white country has made it easy to lose sight of the colours that different cultures have brought to Ireland from across the globe as queer People of Colour express their identities in beautiful ways, including performance, music and art. Al Fartukh spoke to a handful of queer Asian artists whose voices are becoming louder and more recognised with each of their artistic endeavours. They shared their influences, expressions and what it means for them to identify as queer and Asian.
A HIDDEN MINORITY
As of November 2022, the number of people registered as homeless in Ireland reached the highest on record - 11,397 without a home. Adding to the causes for concern about this issue is the immense cohort that remains statistically underrepresented - the LGBTQ+ community. Joe Drennan reports
QUEER–TOPIA –
2022 saw some massive shifts in Irish queer culture. From dealing with a spike in hate-fuelled attacks and persisting transphobia in Irish media to more hopeful displays of progress, the queer people
GCN Group Manager Michael Brett
And breathe…we made it to the end of the year. 2022, you were a rollercoaster of emotions! We emerged from the shadow of Covid-19 and finally celebrated Pride and queer events in-person across the country. Our light shone again, as we protested, partied, and paraded through the cities, towns, and villages of the country
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A Pride of Prides

When Nicole Lee moved to Ireland in 2020, one of the things she was most excited about was Dublin Pride. Unfortunately, the move coincided with the arrival of a global pandemic and in-person Pride events were cancelled for lockdown. When 2022 arrived, she decided to go all-out by attending not just one, but five different Pride celebrations across the country.

During 2020, while I enjoyed various Pride livestreams, I couldn’t wait for the in-person events to resume. When my LGBTQ+ Meetup group shared a list of all of the Prides happening across the country, I was thrilled to learn that the first Pride of the season was in May, and they would continue all through September! I loved the idea of supporting different Pride celebrations, and it was such a meaningful way to explore different counties for the first time. I found each Pride had a very distinct feel and theme.

Fingal Pride theme: Joy
This first-ever Fingal Pride took place in a castle, and it felt magical. I spent the day enjoying live drag performances and discovering new queer musicians. The vendors were fantastic, and I bought a new Progress Pride flag. The whole event was family-friendly and I loved seeing children and teens gleefully celebrating alongside their families.

Dublin Pride theme: Visibility
I was a bit overwhelmed by the crowds, but I loved how Pride was the focal point of the city centre. I enjoyed watching the Parade take over the town, and I was thankful to hear from government officials who promised to advance LGBTQ+ rights. At times, it felt a bit like a tourist spectacle, but I ended the night enjoying a slice of DiFontaine’s pizza sitting shoulder to shoulder with friends feeling visible, supported, and thankful for the community I found this year.

Trans and Intersex Pride theme: Protest
In comparison to mainstream Prides which can feel commercialised, Trans and Intersex Pride is still attached to its protest roots. I passed out homemade crochet arm bands and felt solidarity with fellow protestors. The march and speeches were empowering, and while the attendance was modest – we need to see more cis-gendered allies showing up – I was honoured to spend the day supporting trans and non-binary friends. I left feeling energised to continue to the fight.

Cork Pride theme: Power
Cork Pride may have been my favourite Pride of 2022. Everything flowed effortlessly, several restaurants offered Pride specials, and the vibe was proud and welcoming. I loved how younger groups were given a platform to speak and perform on the main stage. My outfit made me feel like a superhero for the first time in my adult life - as we were walking from the parade to the main venue, a cis man stepped out of my way.

Portlaoise Pride theme: Community
I was delighted to see Pride flags waving from nearly every shop when I arrived in Portlaoise. I later learned that all local businesses could become a Pride sponsor in exchange for a rainbow pack to decorate their storefront, and over 100 businesses participated! The whole production felt local, inclusive and well-organised. The community spirit was contagious. Christina Fitzharris, Project Coordinator, shared, “It was an incredible week of events with a turnout that far surpassed our expectations and we really need to thank the support and solidarity given by members of the local community, the local businesses and Laois County Council who went above and beyond to make sure LGBTQ+ people felt safe to celebrate all aspects of queer culture.”

I’m already looking forward to the 2023 Pride season which will begin in just a few months! Galway and Belfast are at the top of my list, and Dublin Pride will be celebrating their 40th Anniversary on June 24. See you there.

HOMEWORKS
Fionn Kidney of the non-profit social enterprise Common Knowledge shares information on an essential new project which creates space for LGBTQ+ people to bring climate action home to Irish communities
< Go to Previous Article
My Love Letter to the Punk Community
‘Punk is not dead.’ Al Fartukh heard this phrase far too many times before they even knew what punk was. They wrote it on bathroom walls, school books and even dreamed of having a tattoo of the phrase when they were a preteen, but they can now confidently say that it sure as hell is more alive than ever.
Go to Next Article >
My Love Letter to the Punk Community
‘Punk is not dead.’ Al Fartukh heard this phrase far too many times before they even knew what punk was. They wrote it on bathroom walls, school books and even dreamed of having a tattoo of the phrase when they were a preteen, but they can now confidently say that it sure as hell is more alive than ever.
Go to Next Article >
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FROM THE TEAM
Welcome, dear reader, to the December/January edition of GCN, an issue that serves the double purpose of closing out one year and welcoming in another.
NXF UPDATE
The National LGBT Federation (NXF) is glad to report that the long-awaited Hate Offences Bill was moved forward by Government in recent weeks.
HOMEWORKS
Fionn Kidney of the non-profit social enterprise Common Knowledge shares information on an essential new project which creates space for LGBTQ+ people to bring climate action home to Irish communities
A Pride of Prides
When Nicole Lee moved to Ireland in 2020, one of the things she was most excited about was Dublin Pride. When 2022 arrived, she decided to go all-out by attending not one, but five different Prides.
My Love Letter to the Punk Community
‘Punk is not dead.’ Al Fartukh heard this phrase far too many times before they even knew what punk was. They wrote it on bathroom walls, school books and even dreamed of having a tattoo of the phrase when they were a preteen, but they can now confidently say that it sure as hell is more alive than ever.
RED CARD
On December 2, 2010, former FIFA President Sepp Blatter revealed that Qatar would be the host nation for the men’s World Cup in 2022. Alice Linehan reports on how that decision has affected queer players and fans of football
Mind Matters
As the weather gets colder and the days shorter, those of us with seasonal depression, anxiety and other issues are bound to notice increased symptoms. But, as Ethan Moser explains, it would be remiss not to mention that LGBTQ+ folks are more likely to suffer from mental health issues than our cis-het counterparts.
Northern Star
Damian Kerlin takes a closer look at that jewel in the crown of Belfast’s queer nightlife, the much-loved Kremlin.
A SEAT AT THE TABLE
Whether you consider yourself young or old, ageing is something that affects us all. Han Tiernan talks about an essential roundtable discussion which happened as part of the Outburst Queer Arts Fest.
ELDERING
The god Thor was once beaten in an arm wrestle by a very aged crone, the tale illustrating that age will always defeat youth and vigour in the end. El’s suggestion of looking to our own folklore, such as the idea of Tír na nÓg, when thinking about time passing, was introduced during an online round table interview that Rita Wild hosted in November of behalf of GCN.
Outhouse
Antisocial Media
In October of this year, Elon Musk fulfilled the prophecy of his acquisition of Twitter, entering the company’s headquarters wielding a sink and a promise to become a “free speech absolutist”. Joe Drennan looks at the social media platform’s freefall since and its stark rise in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.
A MESSAGE FROM THE STATE
After years of campaigning for appropriate legislation to protect marginalised groups, the Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences Bill 2022 is going through its second stage in the Dáil. The majority of EU countries already have existing legislation and in the current climate of increasing hate, Beatrice Fanucci echoes the voices who say it’s past time for Ireland to take action.
FINE ART
Living in a predominantly white country has made it easy to lose sight of the colours that different cultures have brought to Ireland from across the globe as queer People of Colour express their identities in beautiful ways, including performance, music and art. Al Fartukh spoke to a handful of queer Asian artists whose voices are becoming louder and more recognised with each of their artistic endeavours. They shared their influences, expressions and what it means for them to identify as queer and Asian.
A HIDDEN MINORITY
As of November 2022, the number of people registered as homeless in Ireland reached the highest on record - 11,397 without a home. Adding to the causes for concern about this issue is the immense cohort that remains statistically underrepresented - the LGBTQ+ community. Joe Drennan reports
QUEER–TOPIA –
2022 saw some massive shifts in Irish queer culture. From dealing with a spike in hate-fuelled attacks and persisting transphobia in Irish media to more hopeful displays of progress, the queer people
GCN Group Manager Michael Brett
And breathe…we made it to the end of the year. 2022, you were a rollercoaster of emotions! We emerged from the shadow of Covid-19 and finally celebrated Pride and queer events in-person across the country. Our light shone again, as we protested, partied, and paraded through the cities, towns, and villages of the country
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