Wednesday, March 17, 2021

DUBLIN

 Before you think this will be a travelogue entry, and I wish it were, this has to do with the expanding and creative Irish drag queens, that are making their marks. I think right behind the Australia and UK, drag scenes, Dublin has one of the most fun and outlandish scenes too. They are a silly bunch, don't take it seriously, and are full of hilarity. By other parts of the world, the drag culture in Ireland is still very young. It you have seen the documentary, Paris is Burning then you realize that in contrast to the poverty and violence young New York queens faced in the last two decades,  Irish drag culture has had a smoother path in it's development. Irish drag is all about incorporating a lot of Irish humor and stories and doesn't put focus on impressions , fishiness or replicating a celebrity. The drag scene in Dublin is booming right now and they have some incredible talents in their midst. A night at the George is never a bad idea if you want to  have fun let loose and rub shoulders with some stunning queens. In honor of the day, and these Irish bitches... here's my list of queens one should search out if you want to see some good quality drag shows.

Bonnie Ann Clyde defines herself as a woman in decline, with a big heart and a bigger butt. Bonnie appears at the George as well as Drag Aid, an event created to support LGBTQ people in Chechnya Russia. Drag Aid is a showing stopping, drag-tastical event with lips syncs, quizzes and prizes galore.

Victoria Secret is one of the Georges must see acts. And her hair is so big because it's full of secrets hunty. I caught one of her rare performances when she came to New York once...a brilliant performer, seriously dead pan funny, so, oh, super glam. Her lip syncs in all her technicolor elegangaza are not to be missed. 

And you all know this fabulous queen...probably Ireland's most well known Grande Dame...Panti Bliss. This Mayo native moved to Dublin to attend art college in the 80's. It was during this time Panti was created, and she delved into the world of drag performance. Panti has spent over 28 years being a drag queen,  but has openly admitted that being an activist for the LGBTQ issues was never intended, if anything it was a forced response to how Irish LGBTQ people were constantly being undermined and treated like second class citizens. Panti has become of the the globes most out spoken queens on many issues since,  and has been a huge voice for people living with HIV. Her comedy routines are a must see.

If you think this is a woman, your Miss Taken.  Miss Taken is probably the funniest of queens on the Dublin scene, she's incredibly witty, and not afraid to laugh at herself. She is often seen as the star of the show for drag brunch in Pot Bellied Pig . She describes herself as Dublin's premier non-death dropping queen.

Heiress Blackstone is a fabulous queen. She can be seen performing in drag shows in Dublin as well as at times in London at Cirque Le Soir, a circus themed nightclub last I knew...filled with DJ'S, snake charmers, fire eaters and an indoor funfair. She too can seen sissy-ing that walk at the Pot Bellied Pig drag brunch. Is she politically correct? HELL NO thank goodness.

Dolly Grip describes herself as-  Drag queen, Bar Maid, Hostess, Confidente and All -Round Grumpy Old Bint. Let's just say Dolly has been around the block a few hundred thousand times, and has a ton of mileage on her. But she is much loved by the community of Dublin and fellow queens as the senior states-queen of the drag scene, been around for quite some time, but highly respected in the scene of drag there.

Yes honey, make way for Regina George...by far Dublin's dancing queen. She answers to Dublin's only Category is...leggy blond fish with a serious attitude. She is part of Dragged Up, events at the George, Vicar Street, The Button Factory and Liberty Hall. This bitch slays with what she does with dancing.

Pixie Woo is probably one of the best known drag queens in Dublin. She always turns a campy fun lewk and she's a serious performer, she's a MUA so her make is always on point. She describes herself as Paris Hilton on low budget...but she is by far a iconic member of the Dublin drag scene.

This queen is a DCU business gradate...Shirley Temple Bar's career took off after being crowned 97's stand in for Miss Ireland. Shirley has had screen time on Irish television, and hosted Telly Bingo for years. Nowadays, Shirley hosts the weekly Bingo and has comedy performances every Sunday night at the George for fans who can't get enough for her.

Veda Lady is the quirky and "out there" queen for the Dublin scene. Veda bring bits of actress, singer, comedian, helpful guru to her show, Witchy Wednesday at the George. She is very well known for her distinctive looks and her fiery red gruaig.

Davina Devine has been making waves as of late, and no not her wigs. She's a racy and humorous queen, to rival even Miss Lampanelli, who can put a smile on anyone's face and has been the hostess with the mostess for many shows, including her own at the George on Thirsty Thursday.  If your a politically correct person and easily offended then I wouldn't advise this show, but I love me insult comedy. She can also be seen twerking over an eggs Benedict at the drag brunch in Bow Lane.

Now I want to go to Dublin for some debachery.....who's game?
☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘

20 comments:

  1. Miss Panti Bliss's "Noble Call" speech remains one of the most intelligent, impressive declarations of gay, nay, human rights I have heard/read in a generation. The video and transcript are in this article from "This is Cabaret" website. Jx

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    1. I would second that! That was brilliant. Her intelligence surpasses many.

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    2. I think so too!

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    3. Thank you, Jon. That was certainly eye-opening. Panti Bliss has found a new fan here.

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  2. My DIL grew up in Ireland for part of
    her childhood. They were going to go
    back this summer but the pandemic
    got in the way. Lots of talent!

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  3. What a very nice tribute and the perfect day to pay respects to these Irish bitches! I like that they each specialize in a different style and talent to fill gaps in Dublin. They all seem to balance each other nicely.

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  4. I loved this post. Panti is Dublin royalty!!!!

    And they all have perfectly campy names...I mean Bonnie Ann Clyde??!?!?!?!

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  5. I'm glad there is someone who writes about drag. And you have quite an achieve. Blogs are hard to find featuring drag queens. And in the US, all we ever hear about are Drag Race queens, so thank you for branching out and bringing other queens to the platform.

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  6. Regina George? So thats what Christina Aguilera has been up too? I have been to Dublin twice. What an absolutely fun city. We caught two drags shows, but have no idea now who it was we saw. But they were certainly entertaining.

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  7. Oh the style. Oh the names. And Panti Bliss is someone I so admire!

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  8. Fantastic photos - and I love those clever names!

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  9. I love Panti Blis. Her 'it's oppressive' gives me the feels every time. She's also got a TED talk on normalizing queer love.
    I love Bonnie Ann Clyde and Pixie Woo!

    XOXO

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  10. Sign me up. How fun is this. I love some of these girls. So sassy. And a couple of senior queens. YAY. I find mileage equals hilarity. (Or that's what I tell myself after my second gin fizz of the evening.) Kizzes.

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  11. How does Pixie Woo balance on those platforms? These are some very fancy ladies.

    I wonder if the hold of the Catholic church on Ireland had something to do with the relatively late flowering of the drag scene in Eire? It would be interesting to compare with Italy and/or Spain, two other countries under the sway of the church.

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    1. At one time, I walked better in high platforms then I did flats!

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  12. Dolly Grip looks like the queen I'm most like to hang out with!

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    1. I wonder if she has a sister named Polly Grip?

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  13. the accent would be quite unsettling at first but then fantastic

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  14. ED U CATE on Dublin henny! Loves them all.

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!