Sin Scéal Eile

You know the feeling you get when you meet someone who is really sound, but also destined for great things? That’s how I feel about Mary. It’s hard to explain her work (and do it justice). She's an incredibly talented designer who works in textiles, but while also creating her own prints and patterns. She makes gorgeous drawings, the Limerick City one being particularly divine (the mayor even wore it as a waistcoat). Go check her out! xR

Sharon has had a very full life, but not one without its ups and downs. She’s proud of the fact that when she was a very young woman she got “justice” (air quotes added by herself) against her child sexual abuser, but she knows that many others can’t go down that route and may never have the relief that she felt when the verdict came through. Now, she cherishes every single day and says ‘yes’ to every invitation, because she knows too well that life can be cut short in an instant.

Amy is a cheery, happy soul. She has recently emigrated to Ireland from the United States after 30 years of choosing it as her preferred holiday destination. She packed in her job and ran away with her savings. She now lives a much slower and much more community centred life, with some whiskey tastings and gigs along the way. Rx

I met Gaël in a Saturday market a few years back. He has a little van from which he made the most amazing crepes. Today, we sat in his very quaint wee house, surrounded by art and plants, and we were treated to vegan cookies. It’s Gaël’s dream to open a community space in the area. Somewhere kids can hang out, listen to live music and a place where locals can host a market. The biggest challenge to realising his dreams, is space. With new hotels and apartments popping up everywhere around him, there is a complete lack of community spaces. Something we’re all very familiar with and frustrated with.

Enda has been busy this week on the lead up to Irish Aids Day (June 15th) and meets us today utterly exhausted. Enda is an incredible queer icon, known also as drag queen, Veda who has played stages across the world, released albums, starred in movies, hosts a podcast but today we’re talking specifically about his activism. Enda went public with his own HIV diagnosis back in 2019 and has since launched ‘You, Me and HIV' — a nationwide campaign to address misconceptions around HIV and help reduce the stigma for those living with it.Some of the topics discussed today might be distressing for some listeners - so mind yourself and always ask for help when you need it.Rx

Éanna is mad about emo music. It’s something he came to later in life after leading what he describes as a “sheltered” life. He has found his passion and his tribe and now runs emo clubs around the country where he plays an awful lot of My Chemical Romance!

Here is a woman who has found her passion. Johanne lives by Samba, it’s her be all and end all. It’s her community and her joy. What’s most amazing is the connection she feels to her sadly departed Dad whenever she’s playing with her bloco. We found Johanne buzzing around the festival, in her self described smurf outfit, banging her drum, having the time of her life. Rx

Sinead exudes art in everything she does. In her professional capacity she endeavors to create spaces that people can be in awe of. This weekend at the festival she’s inviting people to her loveball, where she’ll hand out love letters and spread a little joy while DJ-ing under the very fitting moniker of minikimono.