FROM THE TEAM
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Welcome, dear reader, to the October 2026 issue of GCN.
Gracing our cover is the dazzling Kate Moynihan, who was anointed Person of the Year at The GALAS 2026. This beautiful photo, shot by Babs Daly, may give you a hint of what’s to come in the pages that follow. That’s right! This is our annual magazine celebrating the nominees and recipients of Ireland’s LGBTQ+ awards.
Organised by the National LGBTQ+ Federation (NXF) and yours truly, GCN, The GALAS held its 13th edition on Saturday, October 3. Members of the LGBTQ+ community from all over Ireland gathered in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre in the Radisson Blu Hotel to celebrate the individuals, organisations, and businesses making this island and the world a more equal place for all. Across 16 categories, hosts Louise McSharry and Michael Fry presented awards recognising excellence in activism, allyship, arts and entertainment, sport, journalism and more, as well as two special trophies: one for Legislative Achievement and one for Lifetime Achievement. What’s more, the room was treated to a range of entertainment from Dublin Gay Men’s Chorus, Glória LGBT+ Choir, Ailbhe Reddy and DJ Glamo.
It truly was a night to remember, and in case you need a refresher, we have a rundown of all that went down in this issue. Expect fabulous photos and inspiring interviews (including with our wonderful cover star) aplenty.
There is also a range of content to enjoy beyond The GALAS. As part of GCN and Belong To’s ongoing collaboration to platform emerging voices, one young writer examines how LGBTQ+ people continue to push fashion beyond its limits, informing trends and ultimately becoming often unsung cultural tastemakers. Elsewhere, another contributor dives into the world of video gaming, particularly how certain characters and character creation allow users to explore different identities.
Another way people play with their identity is by dressing up. A great example of this is Cork’s iconic Fantasy Ball, which is set to make its highly anticipated return in November. First taking place in 1994, the event invites lesbians, dykes and sapphics, including any trans, non-binary and masc people who are part of those communities, to fulfil their fantasies at a themed costume party. Hear more about the history of this fabulous ball, as well as details of what’s to come, inside these pages.
Community spaces are increasingly important as hate and hostility continue to be amplified around the world. The Trans Pride movement has been a bellowing response, with one article tracing the rise of four Irish organisations and their impact. In terms of the landscape for LGBTQ+ rights more broadly, ILGA-Europe shares their current priorities in conjunction with their Dublin conference.
With that, dear reader, we encourage you to dive into this magazine and experience these stories for yourself. And while we hope The GALAS coverage fills you with queer joy and inspiration, we must also acknowledge that progress cannot be taken for granted, and we can’t become complacent.
In September, the Turkish LGBTQ+ community was subjected to shocking raids, with 162 people arrested and vital community organisations being shut down. This blatant attempt to silence the local LGBTQ+ movement must be met with resistance from global allies like us who have the power to speak up. October 2026 also marks three years since Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza, since killing over 74,000 Palestinians. The so-called ‘ceasefire’ has been little more than unfulfilled promises, and Western powers continuously fail to act.
Moments like these remind us that the fight for equality doesn’t stop when only some of us achieve progress. So while you read, also remember that our global struggles are connected, and so is our liberation.
Thank you for lending us your time and attention; we hope you enjoy this issue of GCN!
The GCN TEAM