George's Street Mural

The controversial mural that went up last Saturday on George's Street has attracted a lot of media attention. The piece was put up to try and get voters to lean toward a yes vote.

I spoke with James McLoughlin who is one of the models in the mural.

"I'm so happy to be a part of this. Marriage is a right and I can't believe we're still having this discussion in 2015. The media attention I have been receiving is very over whelming - but in a good way!"

Though another graffiti piece outside the Bernard Shaw of two girls kissing to try and promote the yes vote was vandalised, this one on George's Street is still standing, though it was egged two days after it went up.

The vote is now just under a month away and I think that just before we come into May both sides are gonna get very messy.

The No side hasn't been too vote as regard marches and canvassing; they're mainly just putting up posters for why they believe the No vote should win.

I gave my opinion on the mural and referendum in this video below:

Soundtrack Sundays

Last Sunday I went for a visit in The Mart!

For those of you who aren't too familiar with The Mart listen up! It's an artistic space on the Rathmines Road that hosts different events from having musicians in, exhibitions of different types of art and movie nights!

Photo Credit: TheMart

I went last Sunday for a movie night which was entitled Soundtrack Sundays! Every Sunday they play films with great soundtracks. This could either be documentaries based on musicians, films with good scores or classic films.

When I got there we were watching a documentary based on the singer from Joy Division Ian Curtis. As a huge Joy Division fan I was had already seen this documentary a few times, while also owning it on DVD. However I happily sat there and watched it again.

A great thing about the Soundtrack Sundays in The Mart is that if you want to enquire during the week you're not told what film is going to be on so it adds an air of excitement. Not to mention that it's BYOB! (Bring your own beer)

With admission at only €5 I would strongly recommend giving The Mart a visit!

I spoke to a regular cinema attendee at The Mart, she was telling me that she goes every week and looks forward to each visit.

View Larger Map

Swingers in Dublin

I'm going to take a break from the original material I do as regards interviewing the people of Dublin. I'll get back to it soon but for my next few posts I'd like to talk about the different things happening in Dublin that a lot of us aren't too familiar with.

Photo Credit: thesea/

"The swinging scene is a lot more undercover in Ireland due to the nature of our society."

I've previously finished a radio documentary about Swingers in Dublin - it was quite a surreal experience.

I'm so thankful to all of the people who spoke to me and I feel so lucky that I managed to speak so such different types of people. 

One man I spoke to was Tom Hogan who was a swingers event organiser. To see Tom on the street you wouldn't think that he works in such a 'crazy' profession. Speaking to him he was so pleasant and happy to share all of his experiences with me. 

Here's some of what he had to say:

How did you get started into the lifestyle of swinging?

"a guy visisted our website development company about 3 and a half, four years ago looking for a website entitled Irish Swingers Club.com. We made a very fine website but the client never resurfaced to take advantage of this website we had created. Ordinarily we would just forget about it but this particular website radiated a lot of traffic in a very short period of time. As a former nightclub operator I detected a buisness opportunity - once a month running a party would seem to make a lot of sense. So with my wifes permission and consultation from my family I embarked upon the swinging scene in November 2001."

Have you ever partaken in it or are you just an organiser?

"To be honest I would have thought at the start that the temptation would have been too profound and would require a huge amount of self control on my part. However it's not like that at all - you enter the scene as a manager of the event."

Do you ever receive hate mail from anyone being an organiser?

"No, from all the media exposure I haven't received one nasty email."

What do you enjoy most about working in this type of industry?

"I actually quite enjoy the night, and it's very profitable."

How does becoming a member work?

"We don't have a membership fee for single girls or couples. We charge the single guys. €95 euro for a 3 month period - we have a range of services they get for that. We have a dating service thats No Strings Attached (NSA)." 

I found Tom's industry of work fascinating - I wouldn't know how someone could work in this industry all of the time and still remain 'normal'. I was curious to hear if he had seen any arguments at the parties and whether or not it always went smoothly.

Confessions of Dublin Drag Queens #3

The third installment of my interviews with Dublin Drag Queens is with Anna Sthetic. Anna has only started doing drag in the last couple of months but has already performed shows in Limerick & The George.

Tell me about how you got started out in drag?

"I first started drag when I saw one of my best friends (pixie woo) who is now my drag mother working in drag in prhomo, I was mesmerised and said to myself 'I want to do that'".

When people come to see you perform what can they expect?

"When people come to one of my shows they can expect to see something different, an element of surprise if you will! Crazy looks and generally something unexpected, depending on the performance!"

Favorite song to lip-sync?

My favourite song to lip sync to would probably be B*witched-C'est La Vie!

Favorite movie?

"My favourite movie would have to be party monster! I love the whole story, the costumes, the makeup as that's generally the type of drag that I gravitate towards."

Favorite singer?

" I generally don't have one if I'm honest! As a drag queen my style and taste in music and artists is always changing so I never stick to one type of genre or one artist, I have a great mix that I like"

Favorite Drag Star?

"In dublin, Pixie Woo but internationally it would have to be Nina flowers!"

What advice would you give to people wanting to start drag?

"For people starting off in drag I would say, don't give up, if it's what you really want to do then keep going for it! Work hard, do shows every chance that you can get, do it for passion and not for money, make it fun, be different and don't take it too seriously!"

What's your confession?

"I've never bought an item of drag clothes myself. It's all been bits that friends have given me."

Confessions of Dublin Drag Queens #2

The second installment of my interviews with Dublin Drag Queens is with Pixie Woo. Pixie currently works and does shows in The Dragon.

Tell me about how you got started out in drag?

"I started in drag five years ago, originally as a joke for a college LGBT competition and this just kind of snowballed from there."

Photo credit: Cormac Cashman

When people come to see you perform what can they expect?

"People can expect to see a kind of satirical take of pop culture and celebrities. My shows are generally a comical interpretation of pop divas."

What famous people do you admire?


"I admire people like David Bowie and Boy George who pioneered a more creative theatrical take of music and fashion."


Favorite movie?

"Edward Scissorhands."


Favorite singer?

"David Bowie."


Favorite song to lip-sync?

"Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat"


Favorite Drag Star?

"Alaska Thunderfuck"


What advice would you give to people wanting to start drag?

"Advice for new queens starting out is be true to yourself and not try be someone else. You're a drag person should be a representation of your own personality and interests. Don't try be the goth queen if you're a massive Britney fan."


What's your confession?

"My ass isn't real! I bought it on ebay."

So what's next for you?

"I don't really know where I see myself in the future, drag is very unpredictable and things change so quickly."

Confessions of Dublin Drag Queens #1

The first installment of my interviews with Dublin Drag Queens is with Candy Warhol.

Tell me about how you got started out in drag?

Photo Credit; Evin Dennehy

"At my christening I was, like any other child, dressed in a white gown. Something about that white lace and a crowd watching me started it all! Years later in art college I began working on a project about my childhood and in my research I documented the many things I was inspired by as a child which still stuck with me. The Wizard of Oz and any fairytale with a villain always stuck with me. I watched 'Too Wong Foo' on repeat from the age of five. I identified with the misfit type, especially Andy Warhol and the Warhol Superstars. I was never allowed play with dolls and in my second year of college I created 50 dolls that made up my personality. I then re-created Warhol's moving portraits with about five alter egos I created. One of which was Candy Warhol, who was a living pop culture doll that could only live for fifteen minutes. I performed at art shows and then, seeing that there was no gay nights in Limerick at the time, created one and gave my character her first club gig. It all took off from there and the next month I was a contestant at Alternative Miss Ireland! The rest they say is Her-story!"

When people come to see you perform what can they expect?

I always describe myself as a full on acid trip. You can have a colourful bubblegum pop art experience. And the next minute it's your (or my) worst nghtmare right infront on stage. I'm most comfortable telling a story on stage through song and costume. Of course I like performing to pop songs that mainstream audiences will like, but I thrive off the left field. There are always that bunch that get excited for that too. I love those weirdos!"

What famous people do you admire?

I really love anyone that goes against the grain. Pete Burns is one of my biggest idols. What a character! His style mixed with Dead Or Alive's music is just fantastic to me. Candy Darling and Holly Woodlawn inspire me the most out of all the Warhol Superstars, next to Eddie Segwick. Icons. Mainstream I really love Nicola Roberts and Kelly Osbourne - I love an underdog and these girls just turned it out in the last few years!"

Favorite movie?

"The Wizard of Oz & Return to Oz will always be my favorites - always inspiring. My upcoming EP is an homage to both films. I also love The Neverending Story, Labryinth, The Witches, The Craft, Hocus Pocus and of course Muriels Wedding. I really admire John Waters & Tim Burton also, they create this bizarre world to fit all their movies. You know it's their work when you see it. Genius!"

Favorite singer?

 "Kate Bush! Her voice and how she creates a story around each song is astounding. My favorite singer to perform to. I also love Cyndi Lauper, cried when I met her. Sophie Ellis Bextor has always been brilliant to me and I was lucky enough to open for her this year in London and later dance for her with The Sink The Pink crew. Stevie Nicks, Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga, Dolly Parton, ABBA, Robyn and Madonna."

Favorite song to lip-sync?

Again I love Kate Bush. 'Wow' and 'Running up That Hill' are my favorites. The Cranberries - Zombie, MNDR - Feed Me Diamonds, and ABBA - The Winner Takes it All.

Favorite Drag Star?

photo credit: AlphaPress

"Divine stands out for me a lot. I AM DIVINE! Leigh Bowery really took that punk drag act

 and flipped it around didn't he. They were the firsts. RuPaul and Lady Bunny will also be those untouchable faces of drag as well to me. Currently I love Alaska Thunderuck, Kelly Mantle, Poercealin, DuoRaw and Miss Fame among others. Over this side of the pond Davina Devine became an inspiration after we began working together and became friends."

What advice would you give to people wanting to start drag?
 

"I get asked that a lot and who am I to say do or don't. I think everyone should try it for Halloween. That doesn't mean you have to create a profile page and try jump on every show. Do that if you actually want a career. Not if you've watched a marathon of drag race and think you know the ins and outs. Leave the attitude at the door and support each other. I did a few gigs in London in September and the queens I met there were so tight knit and thrived on encouraging each other. We need that. It's hard work and you are always learning. I think that's the fun part for me. Evolving. Always be original and stick to your guns."

What's your confession?

"I used to always care too much what people thought of me. I crashed into the scene with no knowledge of what I was doing but I've learned to do what makes me happy. Be thankful and always remember you're a fish in a big pond - there is so much more out there to see! I can't wait to see more!"

So what's next for you?

My new pop up club night TRASH is throwing 'The Divine TRASH Family Christmas' December 14th in Pacinos Bar. We have a great lineup and a John Waters movie theme! I want to see queens and kids bringing it and having fun with us! I just finished my second single and the EP is almost done. I'm back to London for some gigs in March so can't wait to see my Sink The Pink Family again, had some of them over for the launch night of Trash and it was brilliant! Have some exciting projects lined up for the new year with some friends so I'm exicted! Plus my website is always updated with drag goodness!

Thanks so much for having me! See you at TRASH! XXX 

 

Confessions of Drag Queens

Photo Credit: PantiBliss

 With Rory O'Neil (Panti) winning 2014 Person of the year, and with the up and coming same sex marriage referendum, I have decided that for the next six weeks I'll be interviewing different Drag Queens in Dublin. These interviews will focus on hearing how they started out doing drag, what their inspirations are and how they see themselves as their drag persona.