The Galas
LGBTQ+Awards
On Saturday, October 4, The GALAS, Ireland’s annual awards ceremony honouring the LGBTQ+ community, hosted its 12th edition. Organised by the National LGBTQ+ Federation (NXF) and GCN, the event boasted 15 categories as well as two special Lifetime Achievement recognitions, celebrating outstanding accomplishments in areas like activism, arts, allyship, sports, journalism, business and more. All GALAS photos by Babs Daly.
The ceremony was housed in the fabulous Dublin Royal Convention Centre at the Radisson Blu Hotel, and proceedings were led by the hilarious I’m Grand Mam duo, PJ Kirby and Kevin Twomey. Together, they expertly guided attendees through the night, presenting each award recipient with their trophy to thunderous applause.
During the event, the hosts were joined on stage by some fabulous performers, including Glória LGBT+ Choir, Elaine Mai and MayKay, while Mother DJ Glamo provided dancefloor hits once the ceremony concluded. The rainbow community show up in style to celebrate their queer comrades and allies, serving looks encompassing drag glam, disco boots, power suits and everything in between.
Perhaps the biggest honour of the night, Person of the Year, was awarded to Paula Fagan. Earlier this year, she moved on from her role as CEO of LGBT Ireland after 13 years of service, leaving behind an incredible legacy of progressing rights and inclusion for LGBTQ+ people across the country.
Two Lifetime Achievement awards were also presented as part of The GALAS 2025. The first went to outgoing President Michael D. Higgins for his commitment to working towards an Ireland where everyone can live authentically and freely. The other went to the late Siobhán O’Dowd, who was a tireless activist in Cork’s LGBTQ+ community. The accolade was accepted by her wife, Tina.
After the ceremony, Chair of the NXF, Anna Nolan, said, “It’s always incredibly exciting to host The GALAS alongside GCN. It’s an honour to bring the LGBTQ+ community and our allies together for a wonderful celebration of their achievements over the last year, and I’d like to extend a huge congratulations to all of the nominees and award recipients. Their vital work has contributed to making Ireland and the world a more inclusive and welcoming place for all. Thank you also to our sponsors and supporters, without whom this annual event would not be possible.”
GCN’s Managing Editor Stefano Pappalardo added, “We are delighted to host the 12th edition of The GALAS in partnership with the NXF. It’s always such a joy and a privilege to celebrate and acknowledge the incredible achievements of individuals, community organisations, and companies who continue to make Ireland and the world a better place for our community. A big thank you to our sponsors, supporters, our friends at Catapult, the shortlisting organisations, our wonderful hosts PJ and Kevin, and everyone who made this event possible. We are especially grateful, as The GALAS also serve as a vital fundraiser for GCN, ensuring we can continue our mission as Ireland’s national LGBTQ+ media. Huge congrats to all the winners and those shortlisted, we hope you had a fantastic night!”
The GALAS 2025 would not have been possible without the support of all organisers, contributors, attendees and sponsors. A special thank you goes to the platinum sponsors Catapult, Coimisiún na Meán, Dublin Bus, Dublin City Council and Sky; the sponsors Accenture, An Post, Belong To, Broadlake, Community Foundation Ireland, EY, KPMG, Mother and MoveHome; and our supporters Adult Autism & ADHD, Amnesty International, Creative Technology, Diageo, Drag & Draw, Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride, Front Line Defenders, Glorious Ceremonies, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Nassau Clinic, National LGBTQ+Federation, Public Service Credit Union and We The People.