Pride – London Irish LGBT Network

Online Event with Dr Patrick McDonagh: Gay and Lesbian Activism In Ireland

For Pride Month, we wanted to ensure that we had an online event that would be of interest to all our members and their friends. As they say, to know where you’re going, you have to know where you’ve come from.

That’s why we’re delighted to announce that author of ‘Gay and Lesbian Activism in the Republic of Ireland 1973-93‘, Dr Patrick McDonagh, will join us to chat about ‘Dr. Patrick McDonagh author of ‘Gay and Lesbian Activism in the Republic of Ireland’, will discuss The Rise of Pride in Ireland in 70s & 80s’ on June 21st at 8pm.

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Our Life Stories

Pride: sore feet and cheekbones!

For Pride month, our members are sharing their stories, our committee member, Ed Magee, tells his story.

Committee Member Ed Magee (right) and friends at Pride.

Pride and what it means to me – sore feet and cheekbones!

By Ed Magee

I’ve only marched twice in Pride, once with Harrow and Brent council and once with Camden council but I’ve volunteered since 2012 with Pride.

Volunteering for Pride is a long day making it safe for everyone. It takes a huge number of volunteers and an immense about of planning behind the scenes all done by a core team of volunteers. You should see the training on how to manage the road crossing it’s a precision operation.

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Events

Postponed: In Conversation with Conleth Kane

Update: 23rd July 2021

Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts and there not being enough hours in the day, we’re going to have to postpone our chat with Conleth on Monday. We’re hoping to re-arrange the date as soon as possible. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

~~Join London Irish LGBT Network for our monthly virtual meet-up on Monday July 26th at 8pm. This month we’re joined by Northern Irish singer-songwriter, Conleth Kane.~~

Conleth has just released his new single ‘Proud’, which has been remixed by remixers to the stars, 7th Heaven.

Described by OK Magazine! as ‘the breath of fresh air we all need right now’ and QX Magazine as “an infectiously energetic, refreshingly cheerful Singer/Songwriter”, Conleth Kane recorded his debut album ‘Proud – Live in London’ at a sold out show at The Crazy Coqs in London’s West End in Oct 2018 seeing him shoot to Number 2 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter Charts in Feb 2019.

Originally hailing from Northern Ireland, Kane trained at the prestigious Arts Educational Schools in London and went on to perform roles on screen as well as in Musicals in the West End and all over the UK/Ireland before becoming a Singer/Songwriter.

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Our Life Stories

Conleth’s Story: Proud

For Pride month, we asked our members if they would like to share their stories about their lives and what Pride means to them. The response has been amazing and we may continue these after Pride month has ended. If you would like to contribute your story, please send your story to londonirishlgbtnetwork@gmail.com

Thanks to Conleth’s for sharing his story.

Proud

By Conleth Kane

I will never forget my first non-uniform day at my secondary school – St Paul’s Junior High School in Lurgan back in 1997. It was an all-boys Catholic School in a working-class town in Lurgan in N. Ireland. I emerged from my bedroom wearing a Spice Girls T Shirt and my parents looked at me with fear all over their faces. They were always terrified on my behalf but I honestly didn’t give a s**t. I adored the Spice Girls. The band was the only display of diversity I had seen and they made it very clear that it was perfectly acceptable to be in a group scenario but be individual. I suppose that’s why I saw 60,000 other gay people at their 2019 reunion shows at Wembley Stadium. I guess they also identified with the very loud and clear message the girls generated.

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