Mental Health / Quiet Space – Sarah Hughes
The Mental Health Room is a quiet space where you can take some down time away from the bustle of Pink Training, or a place that you can go to speak to Sarah if you’re feeling any distress or if things are feeling like they’re a bit too much. There will be some activities in the room to help you destress.
How to be a Queer Activist – Ollie Bell
Based on their involvement and being a founding member of Trans and Intersex Pride Ireland, Ollie will speak to that experience, staying engaged and endeavouring for greatness. Full session description to follow
+101 – Gillian McInerney
+101 (Plus 101) is a dive into the lesser-known identities of the LGBTQIA+ community. We will explore the differences between romantic and sexual attraction, take a glance at the wide and wonderful world of gender, and be introduced some of the words and terms people use to communicate their sexuality and gender identity.
How to run an LGBTQIA+ Society – Sinéad Ruane
Based off of her experience both in running GIGSoc (Now BródSoc – Ollscoil na Gaillimhe’s LGBTQIA+ Society) and being an organiser of Galway Community Pride, Sinéad is here to give you the cheat code on running the best LGBTQIA+ Society you can. Full session description to follow
An Focloir Aiteach – Caoimhghín Ó hEodhasa/Kevin Hussey
Sa gceardlann seo, beidh Caoimhghín ag cur i láthair na focail a úsáidtear i nGaeilge le haghaidh téarmaí agus coincheapanna aeracha. Uaidh na leaganacha éagsúla de “An Foclóir Aiteach” agus na spriocanna a bhí taobh thiar de gach leagan, go dtí na focail a deirtear ag an bpobal agus atá cruinnithe ag an Meitheal, fágfaidh an té a fhreastalaíonns ar an gceardlann seo le tuiscint níos fearr cén chaoi iad féin a chur in iúl agus toipicí aiteacha a phlé.
In this workshop, Kevin will be presenting the words used in Irish queer terms and concepts. From the various editions of “An Foclóir Aiteach” (“The Queer Dictionary”), and the intentions behind them, to words found in the community and gathered by the Meitheal, attendees will leave the session with a broader understanding of how to express themselves or discuss queer topics as Gaeilge.
Race and LGBT – Thomas Heising
Let’s talk racism! Discrimination within an already discriminated community sounds absurd, but unfortunately this is a lived reality for many in our queer spaces. Feeding into topics around “race” are trends of exclusion, white supremacy and unfortunately also violence. Based on a 2021 study and campaign Crossroads that session host Thomas Heising worked on, he will share insights of what forms of discrimination queer people of colour (QPOC) are going through in contemporary Cork. Join this 2-hour session where together we will highlight forms of racialisation in the community, challenge terminology and discuss what we all can do to combat an increasingly dangerous world that seeks to divide and conquer us.
LGBT in the North – The Rainbow Project
This session will explore the work of The Rainbow Project, Northern Ireland’s foremost LGBTQIA+ organisation, and the issues facing LGBTQIA+ communities in the North. The past year has seen a rapid worsening of the situation for LGBTQIA+ communities, with rising hostility in the media and politics, the imposition of a targeted ban on puberty blockers, and the recent UK Supreme Court judgment on the Equality Act. Given the cross-border nature of our communities and issues affecting them, this session is essential for those who are interested in LGBTQIA+ movements in Northern Ireland, and will offer reflections on past successes and the needs of our communities in the here and now.
Queer Conflict Management – Neev Kennedy
Now more than ever it’s vital the queer community sticks together, defends one another and focuses on liberation. Often in our organising spaces, conflict inevitably arises. This workshop aims to gain an understanding of constructive conflict that rebuilds instead of destroying. We will look at examples of typical conflict in organising spaces, work through them together and reflect on the communities responsibility to become conflict secure. You can expect to discuss defining conflict versus abusive behaviour, the benefits of resolution and rebuilding community with some examples and open discussion.
Sex on the Peach – Aoife Murray
Join us for a peachy time discussing anal play. You’ll learn about exploring anal pleasure in a fun and risk-informed way. From douching to dildos, we’ve got you covered.
Open to all genders and sexualities. We’ll discuss a wide array of play options that account for all identities and anatomies.
Did you attend this talk last year? Never fear. I’ll have a few new tricks to keep you entertained.
Fair warning – you’ll have to tolerate Aoife’s peach related puns!
Navigating Pleasure in a Binary-Obsessed World – Ollie Bell
Based off of an article Ollie Bell authored, they will speak to the hollistic view of navigating sex and sexual pleasure outside of the traditional expectation of sex based off of what we have learned from the Irish sexual health curriculum. Full session description to follow.
Chemsex – MPower
This session will consist of an overview of the work and mission of HIV Ireland and the MPOWER programme, an introduction to Chemsex, Harm reduction and how to support a friend or loved one.
Pink Kink – Aoife Murray
An intro to kink and the BDSM community.
Learn about risk-informed kink practices, the link between the BDSM and LGBT+ communities, and dip your toe into the scene. This session also includes how-to guides for bondage and impact play.
Did you attend this talk last year? Never fear. I’ll have a few new tricks to keep you entertained.
Open to all genders and sexualities. There will be specific references to asexual kinksters.
Brace yourself for a spankingly good time!
Signposting for Allies – Gillian McInerney
Are you an LGBTQIA+ ally? Of course you are! If you have ever wondered where you can direct LGBTQIA+ people to for advice, support or healthcare then this is the session for you. We will take a look at the current landscape for queer people in Ireland, give some historical context, and provide you with a multitude of services you can signpost to when someone needs help. This session includes the option to ask question or share information anonymously.
Be Bisexual, Eat Hot Chip and Lie – Tom Forde and Faye Ní Dhomhnaill
Bisexuals are greedy! Bisexuals shouldn’t bring their partners to pride! Bisexuals have straight privilege!
Have you heard this before? Have you said this before? This session will discuss the balance of queer acceptance and heterosexual privilege, comp het, and look at the place bisexuality holds in the queer community.
Queer Ballroom – Tino Wekare of the Haus of Schiaparelli
Tino will be providing a history of Ballroom from origins to today and futures for Irish Ballroom
Disability Allyship – Blezzing Dada
This talk invites a radical awareness of how ableism, queerness, personal and systemic neglect intersect—across history and in our present.
From the AIDS crisis to the ongoing pandemic, we’ll trace how queer, trans, Black, brown, and disabled communities have been abandoned by institutions yet sustained each other through networks of liberatory care. Grounded in the interconnected history of queer resistance, we’ll explore how community care isn’t charity- it’s survival, memory, and a blueprint for the future.
Together, we’ll ask: What does it mean to build a world where no one is disposable? What if liberation wasn’t an individual journey, but a collective one?
Because the suffering we see isn’t natural – it’s political. And it doesn’t have to be this way.
LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Sports – Emma Loo on behalf of Na Gaeil Aeracha
Putting the Ga(y) in GAA, this is an engaging and upbeat presentation centred on acceptance, inclusion, and visibility within a traditionally male-dominated sporting environment. Emma Loo, a member of the world’s first explicitly LGBTQ+ inclusive GAA club, Na Gaeil Aeracha (NGA), shares her personal experience navigating Gaelic Games as a queer person. The session explores the history and development of the club, its key successes and ongoing challenges, and the powerful impact of finding a supportive and affirming community through sport. Open and accessible to all, this presentation welcomes both sporting and non-sporting audiences, encouraging a broader conversation around belonging, representation, and inclusion.
Running Alternative Queer Events – Neev Kennedy
Harm reduction before, during and after the party. Pumping music and euphoric crowds, go-go dancers and drag performers, flashing lights, gender-neutral bathrooms, leather dykes and carabiners. Queer events are sites of expression, solidarity, joy and activism. In this workshop we’ll work through organising events on and off campus, reducing harm in nightclub environments and intersectional promotion. This workshop has the purpose of empowering one another to go forward and create amazing community spaces. There will be examples of events, budgets, how to safe-guard spaces and more.
Trans Health and Healthcare – Ryan Goulding
Ryan Goulding is a PhD Candidate within the School of Nursing and Midwifery in UCC. Their PhD focuses on the co creation of an intervention with and for transgender and gender diverse youth to improve their experiences of healthcare services. This session will touch on this work and how we can improve services. Full session description to follow.
Vulvas and Vaginas – Gillian McInerney
As is says on the tin this session will include a look at the variation of vulvas, a lesson on naming the parts of the vulva, some stories from vulva owners of different genders and a chat about sex and pleasure for people with vulvas and vaginas. There will also be a facility to ask questions anonymously.