Bealtaine Festival presents in association with Project Arts Centre
Chaired by Hannah Tiernan researcher, writer, visual artist and Assistant Editor GCN with contributors: David Carroll – Irish Research Council PhD Scholar, Queering the Groove; Orla Egan founder of Cork LGBT Archive; Prof. Maurice Devlin Head of Dept. of Applied Sociology, Maynooth (former Flikkers DJ); Luiz Wellington member of the Gloria Gay Men’s Choir and Eileen Leahy, Lecturer, TCD (former member of the Shamcocks, Drag King group). The panel will discuss the importance of vibrant spaces such as Flikkers and other community-led social spaces within the history of LGBTQ+ activism and socialisation. To quote Maurice Devlin, from the publication Fabulous Flikkers 2002, ‘Exuberance in the face of oppression is profoundly political!’
Prior to the panel discussion there will be a screening of Caroline Campbell’s film Our Love is History (2013), which revisits the politics of the Hirschfeld Centre disco and Orla Egan’s new film, I’m here, I’m home, I’m happy (2022). Following the discussion there will also be the opportunity to purchase signed copies of Orla Egan’s book, Queer Republic of Cork : Cork’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Communities 1970s-1990s
Watch the Flikkers: Queer Spaces, Queer Utopias live stream via GCN TV
Friday 13 May, 6-7:30pm
Accessibility
You can find the latest information about Project’s accessibility here. Please do not hesitate to contact us at access@projectartscentre.ie or call 01 8819 613.
Credits
Curated & produced by artist-curator Francis Fay and journalist, activist and DJ Tonie Walsh
Project Advisors: Tonie Walsh & Julianne O’Malley
Curatorial Support: Monica Flynn (Visual Art Curator, Bealtaine Festival)
Image Credit: Flikkers Ball 1987, image courtesy Tonie Walsh, the Irish Queer Archive.
Funding
This event is part of Flikkers – Come As You Were, the Age & Opportunity Bealtaine Festival Commission for 2022 supported by the Arts Council and Dublin City Council. A series of events remembering and celebrating the Flikkers Disco era at the Hirschfeld Centre and the generation who were there. Flikkers invites older LGBTQ+ people to dance and celebrate this seminal period of social and cultural activism.
Project Arts Centre is proud to be supported by the Arts Council Ireland and Dublin City Council.