25th January 2001

New Studies Group

A new Lesbian/Gay/Queer Studies Group has started meeting fortnightly in the Centre for
Gender and Women's Studies in Trinity College Dublin. The group is open to
anyone who is studying/researching in these areas and who is committed to active
participation in such a group. The meetings will alternate between formal presentations by
participants on  their work and meetings where the group will discuss agreed readings. At each meeting there will be time for informal discussion and exchange of information.

Next meeting: 26th January, 4.00 pm in the Seminar Room, Centre for Gender and Women's Studies, Trinity College, Dublin. Access through Hamilton Building. 

One Hundred and Fifty Thousand happy people

Gay-Ireland.com has reached another milestone, Today our One Hundred and fifty thousandth (150,000th) visitor passed thru the site since it’s re-launch last February. Previously the site was known simply as ‘Gay Ireland’ and had on average 10,000 hits a month, since then the site has focused on content resulting in a huge increase in visitors – we now average 22,000 visitors a month, this figure is expected to increase again throughout the year. As always we need your help, if you have a story or an experience that might help others send it in to features@Gay-Ireland.com

Born a girl  

 Earlier this week (22/01/01), ‘The Irish Independent’ carried a story on a young Irish 19 year old, Debbie. The feature begins with a brief introduction to transsexuals, how they are normally ‘people who feel they are trapped in a male body and want to become women’, Debbie however is a man but was born in a girls body.

 The article detailed Debbie’s childhood from the age of four, thru school age up to last year where Debbie took an overdose and ended up in St. Patrick’s hospital. While it is hard to imagine what Debbie has gone thru, some of her reports detail it as a very traumatic experience. "When my periods began, I was devastated. In my mind, I was a boy but my body started to look like a woman's. I would have done anything to stop it. I used to beat my breasts until they were black and blue to try and make them disappear. I hated them so much. I would trash the mirrors in my room because I couldn't bear to see I was turning into the opposite of myself.”

 Currently Debbie is undergoing a Real Life Test, this is a trial period for transsexuals preparing for surgery to ensure that the choice they are making is the right one. “Under medical supervision, she must live every aspect of her life as a man. All going to plan, in March she will be put on testosterone to deepen her female voice and aid the development of masculine features like facial and bodily hair.”

 Debbie Plans to go to the UK for sex reassignment surgery (it is not currently available in Ireland) “Her breasts will be removed and the skin from them will be used to make a penis, which will be surgically attached to her body. She will also undergo a hysterectomy. By the end of next year, as she approaches her 20th birthday, she hopes to be a man in every sense of the word.”

 To read the full article click here

18th January 2001

Award for Stephen?

Stephen Gately has been nominated for Oustanding Album Of The Year at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards. He is the only artist from the UK and Ireland who has been nominated in America's best-known gay annual entertainment awards.

Stephen's album New Beginning (which includes the single of the same name) is up against competition from kd lang's Invincible Summer, Sleater Kinney's All Hands On The Bad One, Janis Ian's God and the FBT and Patty Larkin's Regrooving The Dream.

The awards take place in four separate ceremonies to be held in New York, Los Angeles, Washington and San Francisco throughout April and May.

Syphilis Outbreak

An outbreak of syphilis among gay men has been reported by genito-urinary medicine clinics in Dublin. A recent Irish Times article (15/01/00) stated that out of 30 syphilis cases syphilis - 27 were were men who have had sex with other men.

According to an article on the gay health website, the primary symptom of syphilis is a painless red ulcer called a chancre and the secondary symptoms consist of a viral illness which includes fever, joint pains, swollen lymph nodes. A copper-colored skin rash, particularly on your palms and soles is classic.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria that lands on your body during sex with an infected partner. Syphilis can be treated, a critical treatment step is notification of all of your sexual partners. 

15th January 2001

Outhouse - Newhouse

Dublin's Gay community center, "The Outhouse", currently located on South William Street is moving location at the end of the month. The center has secured a year long lease on North Frederick Street. The move will also affect GCN magazine (Gay community news) and the Irish Queer Archive. A move has been on the cards for some time, last year saw a decrease in floor space from two floors to one floor, at times the building was left without running water, also the venue has very poor security which led to a robbery at the GCN offices.

Visit our outhouse page here

Madonna and nothing but Madonna

Madonna fans are in for a treat as the George dedicates a whole night to the Queen of Pop-  The George will be transformed into a Shrine to Miss Cicone on Thursday (Jan 25th), the only music played on the night will be from Madonna - ranging from her early days (Holiday, Like a Virgin, True Blue) right up to her current William Orbit dance orientated tunes (Ray of Light, Music, Frozen)

The following night (Jan 26th) will have Kym Mazelle live on stage - Kym is best known for her track 'Young Hearts Run Free' on the Romeo and Julliet Sound Track.

Visit our music page for more info

Gay-Ireland.com visits plastic surgeon

Irelands biggest Gay website is to get even bigger over the next few months. First we are revamping the style and navigation of the site. Second we are adding extra area's to the site. We are looking for idea's and information - if you think there is an area we should include on the site please let us know.

Some of the new features include a new personals page, a message board, a problem page (hosted by Irelands most caring Agony Aunt). Our Agony Aunt (who will be introduced on these pages soon) is on a mission to solve the problems of the nation - if you need advice in any area, be it work, fashion, love then send a letter (in confidence of course) to problems@gay-ireland.com

We also need your articles, features, reviews and News items - If you've been to a new club, movie, concert or feel theres an issue close to your heart that you'de like others to know about then send it in to hello@gay-ireland.com

Flytrap Fridays

A new monthly club for those in the South-east (and beyond) is being Launched early next month (Friday Feb 2nd)  - The club is held at The Forum Regal Room with a £6 admission charge. 

February's guest DJ is John D, Studio 152, Galway. There is an information line giving more details at 087-9499229, you can leave a message there with any queries too. A website should be up in time for the March night (March 2nd).

10th January 2001

Panti to host bingo

Popular drag queen 'Aunti Panti' is to take our the reigns at bingo in the George this weekend. Resident Hostess 'Shirley Temple Bar' is heading over to New York on a holiday with her partner in crime 'Vada'. Panti should bring along a few changes to bingo, Tuesday at the front lounge is one of the busiest nights now thanks to the casting couch which she hosts. Check out these pages soon for a full review of the casting couch.

Lynch's RIP 

We have received a few reports on the closing weekend at Lynch's - Dublins only gay fetish bar. Saturday night was packed with people wanting to have a last drink at the venue, from 10pm onwards it was almost  impossible to move sideways.

On Sunday the drink was begining to dry up, one had to make do with Power's instead of Bushmill's or Jameson. The owner, John Lynch, supplied late evening snacks. The mood was a mix of sadness and celebration.....People sang along with Vera Lynn and there was an almost reverential hush for the last playing of Vivaldi's Gloria.

Rumour has it that the new owners are planning to knock the venue down for the building of apartments. Watch this space. 

8th January 2001

Bring and Buy sale

This wednesday (Jan 10th) LUBE are holding a Leather Uniform Rubber Fetish Gear Bring & Buy Sale. You can rent a table and sell your own stuff for only £5 or donate some of your unwanted books, gear, videos etc to LUBE to help raise funds for the group. The sale kicks off at 8pm at  OUThouse, 6 South William Street, Dublin 2

5th January 2001

Foamless foam party

We received some xmas reviews from Yum Yums nightclub in Limerick, New Years will be the last club night in the basement of the Glentworth Hotel while it closes for renovations. We received rave reviews of both the xmas and New Years party, the only let down being the foam party, there was no foam. We spoke to the organisers who told us "A certain scurrilous foam renting woman called Ashling from Dublin never showed up and switched her phone off after being promised copious amounts of money for the night. Luckily everyone who came in was very understanding and surprisingly most were even a little relived that they didn’t get their new Christmas clothes
wet. " Click here for Limerick reviews on our Events page

4th January 2001

Gay man murdered in Belfast

The body of a gay man murdered on New Years Eve has been identified as Alister David Holmes, found by fire fighters at his home in Belfast, Mr Holme's suffered a very violent attack before his death.
Police are appealing to the gay community for any information that may help with their enquiries. Neighbours have reported a party that took place at Mr. Holme's flat on the night of the attack. A 16 year old was arrested following the attack however the investigation is still on going.

 Last drinks at Lynch's

Lube are having last drinks on what will be the last Saturday Night in Lynch's 
this Saturday night (6th January 2001) - while the night will not be a Lube fetish party
members of the group are encouraged to wear leather/uniform/fetish gear. Visit our page on Lube here

3rd January 2001

Cyber Pubs

Those of you in the George lately may have noticed a new internet terminal by the cloak room, the terminal is an esat machine, complete with LCD screen, keyboard and a coin slot, very high tech, or so I thought until I heard about The Kremlin's latest plan. The award winning venue currently has a cyber-cafe style theme in Development. Terminals will be situated at various points around the upper circle for access any time whilst the bar is opened. 

QueerSpace - 3rd Birthday

Queerspace, a community based organisation in the north run by volunteers celebrates it's third birthday later this month. The event will be held at Whites Tavern in Belfast on Thursday 25th January at 8pm, with free admission. In the meantime Queerspace meetings are held every Wednesday, 7.30pm @ Cathedral Buildings Donegal Street.

1st January 2001

New club opens to mixed response

Hilton Edwards opened its doors on what is regarded as the busiest night of the year - the club is situated at powerscourt shopping center. A hunt to find a dance floor was one of the many surprises of the night - Click here to read a full review.

Irish Times review the Dublin scene

Earlier this week, The Irish Times (29th December) carried a feature on Dublin's gay scene titled 'Dublin's in the pink' - The article interviewed promoters of many gay venues in the city including the new club at SPY. Click here to view the article.