Tonight we wish we were back in Cork . Situated on the South West of Ireland it is the country’s second busy city, it is also one of the most welcoming for LGBTQ community and visitors alike.
Queerguru was there two years ago doing the thing that all Americans want to do ……especially Presidents…. and that is to seek out any distant relatives in the ‘old country.’ We were one of the lucky ones as my husband located his second cousin Joe who runs a Bar in Balydehob, County Cork. which has been in the family for over 100 years.
Like most parts of Ireland we have visited, Cork opened its welcoming arms so large to us, we seriously thought about staying. It has all the amenities of a large city with the warmth and intimacy of a small one.
Cork has just come back on our radar because we learned that the MTU Cork LGBT Society has produced a new documentary called Dragging Up The Past It’s a very affectionate look at the burgeoning drag scene that is making such an impact on the local LGBTQ community. Using archival footage and unscripted interviews directors Robin Guiton and Konrad Im have painted a unique picture of this family of talented queens, who have such genuine warmth for year.
Interestingly enough the inspiration is not Ru Paul, but Cork born Danny La Rue an enormous star in the UK for over 50 years who took drag into the mainstream. It’s actually touching to hear them pay tribute to this groundbreaking Drag Queen who nowadays rarely gets the recognition he deserves.
What is equally impressive is how the queens are so proactive working to shape their own futures. First by creating Miss Alternative Cork and then the launch of the even more successful Mockie Ah. Candy Warhol started this with the now annual Vogue Ball but now it host cabarets and club nights becoming Ireland’s biggest drag and family show .
Each of the queens in the film had the opportunity of talking about how they got started, how their parents reacted, the sheer expense and the limited income . Remarkably not one negative comment, in fact you can see the joy of their faces when they talk about performing.
It’s no secret that here on Queerguru that the Drag Queens we really admire are those who are happiest performing in front of a live audience Using their unique style to hone their acts as they discover their inner drag queen has such authenticity to it. As the veteran Fabula Di Beaumarchai hands out advice to anybody thinking of joining her on stage , ‘never take yourself too seriously.
As well as the Grand Dame Beumarchai expect to see Kitty Cartier, Twiggy Moondust, Candy Warhol, Letycha Le’Synn, Mia Gold, Nettles, Liam Bee, Dakota Mode, Will A.Blige, Alternative Miss Cork Director Eddie Kay, and Irelands youngest drag queen Karma O’Hara,
The documentary is being screened today Friday 12th in Cork by Zoom Webnair AND if that is not enough The Queen of Ireland Panti Bliss herself will join the Q&A to discuss this rich history and her involvement through the Alternative Miss Ireland drag pageant.
Plus be sure to put Cork on your bucket list when the Lockdown ends it will be the perfect antidote.
After that it will play the Film Festival Circuit SO WATCH THIS SPACE FOR UPDATES
Plus if you’d like to know more about Cork’s Drag History then their new Virtual Exhibition provides much more historical and current pieces: https://prezi.com/view/oI8RA94JN22904ZKpIWM/
PS You may also want to check out :
https:// queerguru.com/an-audience-with-the-queen-of-ireland-panti-bliss/
https:// queerguru.com/sen-jerry-buttimer-the-leader-of-the-irish-senate-on-celebrating-carnival-but-still-keeping-an-eye-on-lgbtq-rights/
