This article is from page 8 of the 2013-08-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
LISDOONVARNA is set to become a “landmark” location in the ongoing struggle for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) Irish people.
Days before the first “Outing” gay matchmaking festival comes to Lisdoonvarna, organiser Eddie McGuinness says that the people of North Clare deserve massive credit for the role they are playing in the social development of Ireland.
“This is a landmark event in the journey to full equality. You just have to look at what is happening in Russia right now [where homosexuality is illegal] to understand what a big event this is for the gay community in Ireland,” he told The Clare People .
“The people of Lisdoonvarna have really opened their arms to this festival. For such an ancient festival to welcome the LGBT community is a major event in a lot of people’s minds.
“I was down in Lisdoonvarna a few weeks ago and the reception I got was brilliant.
“I went around to all the local businesses were so enthusiastic about the whole thing.”
Eddie also confirmed that The Out- ing now looks like becoming an annual event in North Clare.
“We have been getting interested people from all over – just today we were getting bookings from Switzerland and America.
“There is a lot of Irish support this but we really have been surprised how far this is going internationally,” he continued.
“I feel in my gut that this will be a really big party in the years to come. This is something we plan to make into a yearly event and I think a lot of credit for this has to go to the people of Lisdoonvarna.”
The festival will also include a number of special community events such as a most glamorous shop-front competition and an official attempt to break the record for the largest number of dancing drag-queens dancing in a single line.
“London has the record at the moment with 156 people in drag dancing in a single line.
“So we want to go one better and bring this world record to Lisdoonvarna,” said Ed.
“We want everyone to take part – men and women. We want men wearing women’s cloths and women wearing men’s cloths.
“We are really hoping that the local community will get involved in this event which should be some fun around the town.”
The world record attempt is also a fundraiser for a number of charities including the Irish Cancer Society. For more information visit www.theouting.ie.