New events on the LGBTQ entertainment scene in Cork

THE LGBTQ entertainment scene in Cork has had a revamp in recent months, with Cork drag queens taking on new venues, new casts and new ways to entertain.

There’s something for everyone, whether it’s Drag Brunch in the afternoon to speakeasy style events, games and quiz nights now hosted by drag queens weekly.

Not only that, but there has been a push to incorporate entertainment outside of your usual cabaret style drag shows.

Cork-based drag queen, Éire Sure, the name behind @corkqueers on Instagram, has put her best heel forward and started a whole new weekly event. ‘Craic Éire’ launched in The Pavillion Bar as part of their weekly LGBTQ event “OUT!”.

“As Éiresure, my brand of Irish Queerness is manifested in Craic Éire through performances, games, competitions and dacent tunes.

“The opening night saw everyone get involved, with community given the chance to perform, show off their looks, spill some tea and even compete for the title of Corks first Monarch of Craic!” the drag queen said.

Hosted by Éire, attendees can expect a wide variety of entertainment. With performances from the host and an open mic format, the community is at the heart of this event.

Attendees have the option to take to the stage and share a story, poetry, lip sync or whatever they can come up with.

Éire has Irish culture in mind as she produces these events, with some audience challenges including Irish dancing competitions.

"I wanted to create a space for everyone in the community to express themselves."

Through music, dance, story, whatever you want to share, however you want to express yourself, here is a space to do so. For spectators, secret stars, gifted tea spillers and divas in need of a good night out,” said Éire.

“There has been a burst of Queer pride and strength in Cork recently, and our community has always come together to celebrate life. Craic Éire is a unique event to the Cork Queer scene, giving a space and platform to all who wish to showcase themselves to our strong and powerful community. Now is a time for us to come together and celebrate, and we can do so every Thursday night,” said Éire.

Éire’s new show has now found its home in Atlas on a Thursday Night at 9pm.

There’s also a new event on Wednesday nights, with the dynamic duo Krystal Queer and Liam Bee taking over The Liberty bar for their newest venture. Having made a recent return to Cork from London, these drag queens are giving back to the LGBTQ community of Cork with their weekly event, ‘The Gay Agenda’. Liam Bee, who co-produces the event, spoke about the aims of the new show and what it means for the LGBTQ community.

“With our Wednesday evening show in the Liberty, we aimed to have a show that was a little more chill and that was more audience-focused, somewhere that the queer community of Cork can come and have a few drinks with their friends and have a bit of craic with drag queens.

"It is an 18’s+ event that is run by myself and Krystal Queer with the guidance of The Liberty Manager Alexander Ganon from 8pm to 10pm every Wednesday,” said Liam.

We wanted a rotation of what actually happens on the Wednesdays we have drag and draw nights, quiz nights, games nights and more to come! 

We launched with a games night hosted by Krystal Queer, and of course there are plenty of free drinks and prizes to be won! The launch night was a really big success, the place was packed, which we were grateful for, and is already one of The Liberty’s most popular weekly events,” said Liam.

“All we can hope for in the future is to keep this weekly event going for the queer community in Cork, it’s more important now than ever!

“Not everyone wants to go on a night out and stay out late so this is the perfect event for people who want to socialise in a queer space and not wake up with a hangover the next day,” Liam joked.

“I’m delighted we are back in Cork, especially with all of the discourse that is happening at the moment, I think there is a lot of change going on for our community right now but it is all for the better and I know that myself and Krystal are going to do all we can now to host queer events and make spaces for the community to come and be together and dance and party and have a laugh! It is so important!” Liam said.

Both ‘Craic Eire’ and ‘The Gay Agenda’ have seen huge success since they launched in the last few weeks and have shown they will continue to create spaces for the LGBTQ community in Cork.

For more information see @thelibertycork and @eiresurequeen on Instagram.