A new twist on old traditions, as the 150-year-old Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival opens in 2013 with a historic first LGBT Weekend (30th August - 1st September). Hosted by Panti - Ireland’s greatest drag queen the festival features an eclectic programme of drag shows, céilí dancing, live acts, club DJs and of course, the all-important matchmaking.
The Outing is raising funds and awareness for the amazing national work of BelongTo, who in 2013 are celebrating 10 years of providing support services for LGBT young people in Ireland.
Check out a preview of some of the festival’s highlights below or click here: entertainment.ie/tickets/the-outing for information on tickets.
The Panti Show
Dublin's Saturday Night Drag Show goes on tour...
Panti and Bunny's Saturday night show at Pantibar, Dublin, is a booze-soaked fusion of lip-sync'd classics, cult movie and TV scenes and guest performances.
The show is MC'd by Panti, who's dedication to method-acting sees her down a few G&Ts during the show, just to channel those glamorous ladies of the silver screen a bit more convincingly. The Panti Show has become a mainstay of Ireland's celebrated drag-scene and its performers and their guests are among the most talented. Now they're breaking free of the bar and joining in on the fun in Lisdoonvarna for a night the sleepy village won't soon forget!
Panti, Bunny & Guests put on the show on Saturday Night.
Niamh Kavanagh
Niamh Kavanagh has been singing for most of her life, beginning with choirs and small local bands, training her voice, while at the same time indulging her love for music. But she really came into her own in 1990 when Alan Parker, director of The Commitments, paid tribute to the North Dubliner’s vocal talent by including her on the film’s hugely successful soundtrack album.
In 1993, before an international audience of over 350 million people, Niamh sang the winning entry for Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. The song, In Your Eyes, went on to achieve double platinum status. Niamh’s Eurovision song for 2010, ‘It’s For You’, was an emotional ballad that really showcased Niamh’s ability to tell a story through a song. The 20,000-strong crowd gave her a standing ovation for her live performance at the Telenor arena in Norway.
Willie Daly
Lisdoonvarna Matchmaker
Fourth-generation Matchmaker, Willie Daly, has the gift that made Lisdoonvarna famous for over 150 years as the place to find love. Willie's ready to add some LGBT couples to his famously enormous book of matched names and will be on-hand all weekend for you to meet and chat with.
“Matchmaking has always been about love”
As renowned for its magic touch restarting the "honeymoon period" for existing couples, as it is for assuring the bright future of new ones, Willie's book is waiting for your name!
Willie Daly will be matchmaking in Lisdoonvarna on Friday & Saturday.
The Dragon on Tour
Hot gay clublife goes West!
The Dragon is one of Dublin's hottest gay night-clubs with a mix of shows and the capital's best DJs every Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and bank holiday Sundays.
Now the best of The Dragon leaves the glamourous ruby interior and dramatic bar-top stage of their home in Dublin and take the hot go-go boys and girls on tour to liven up your late nights in Lisdoonvarna
Host Jonathan Best is joined by the always glamorous Paul Ryder, who'll be performing and DJing along with Regina George. Expect to gag on the elegance as the main club floor fills with massive chart hits and brings the night to a thumping house finish.
Among the performers, dancers, balloon drops, giveaways and killer tracks, Regina and Paul are going to make your last night at The Outing one to remember!
The Dragon on Tour takes over the club venue on Saturday Night.
Céilí & Tea Dance
Traditions to keep!
The old matchmaking ways had some things very right - nothing gets you up and introduced to lots of new people like a good céilí session!
You'll get you plenty of opportunities to make new friends as you whisk around the floor to traditional music on both nights of The Outing. You can even learn the moves with free Céilí Dancing lessons on Saturday afternoon!
Bunny will embrace tradition on Saturday, hosting The Tea Dance giving you a more sedate turn of the floor with that hottie you spotted earlier in the weekend! Nothing cements a new love affair like a waltz and a nice cup of tea. Sure wasn't the country built on it.
The Welcome Céilí takes place on Friday Night with dancing lessons, The Tea Dance and another Céilí on Saturday Evening.
DJ Mo
Direct from The George Dublin, headline DJ for Club Tease.
A classically trained violinist since the age of 6 and a holder of an MA in music technology, Mo has a depth of musical knowledge and experience that shines through both in her mixing and the energy she creates on the dancefloor. Mo loves to play house music of all kinds and her sets will vary from funky vocals to disco to classics to progressive to electro and more. She has a soft spot for disco, nu disco and classic anthems and like her taste in music, her sets are diverse, eclectic and full of surprises to keep the dancefloor on their toes.
DJ Mo has had over 10 years experience of djing, predominantly on Dublin’s gay scene. She plays in The George every Friday for the hugely successful Glitterbomb and has a residency in The Speakeasy on Saturdays. She has played in The Dragon (Dublin), Kiss (Dublin), The Kremlin (Belfast), Eden (Galway), Galway Pride, Club Tease, VIQ (Dublin) and The Garage (Dublin) along with some other exclusive private parties and events.
DJ Mo will play Club TEASE on Friday Night.
For more info check out www.theouting.ie or follow them on facebook / twitter
The Outing Full - Weekend Pass
The Outing - Friday Evening Pass
The Outing - Saturday Evening Pass
