All in Lisdoonvarna for The Outing

PREPARATIONS are continuing for The Outing, the lesbian and gay matchmaking weekend that will take place in Lisdoonvarna from August 30 to September 1.

 

The Samaritans has announced they will be on the streets in Lisdoonvarna, providing confidential emotional support, in the same way as they will be doing at the Matchmaking Festival later in September.

Speaking about the event, organiser Eddie McGuinness said it is completely unique. “This is the first, not only in the country, but in the world.”

He said the idea has been around for a number of years and could have gone ahead more than a decade ago. “We teamed up with Marcus White, we discussed it with him back in 2002 when we were looking at locations for Ireland’s first gay and lesbian music festival. Back then we were going to do it, but the climate wasn’t right. It was suggested that Lisdoonvarna be the place and Marcus came back to see if we’d do this.”

Eddie said there has already been a lot of demand for accommodation and that there should be several thousand in attendance.

While this is a new idea largely targeted at the LGBT community, all are welcome. “What we’re doing is hitting a totally new market and this is not just open to the LGBT community, it’s open to everyone to come along and enjoy themselves.”

He said he was glad that the Samaritans will be providing support and said other agencies will also be represented. “The Samaritans have done an amazing job promoting wellbeing, we will also have the HSE there promoting safe sex, we’ll also have Drinkaware. Like all festivals around the country it has to include the welfare of the participants.”

Mark Kearney of the Clare branch of the Samaritans said people at these kind of events often need someone to talk to. “We have been coming to Lisdoonvarna during September for many years and we are delighted to extend our service this year to include the inaugural Outing festival. On August 31 we will be out and about for about 12 hours, whatever the weather. People attend festivals such as The Outing to meet up with old friends, make some new ones and generally to have a good time. However, it can often be lonely in a crowd and despite the festival atmosphere, many people can experience feelings of loss and despair because of things that have happened in their lives either recently or in the past.”

He outlined the type of support the Samaritans will be offering.

“By our presence on the streets during the Outing, we can provide that valuable emotional space to allow a person to talk to our volunteers about their feelings. We encourage people who may be feeling a little down to use our service to help release the pressure valve by talking about what may be troubling them. Our volunteers will listen and never make a judgement. It’s something we, as Samaritans, are trained to do.”