The following is an article written by Donna O'Leary (B.A.) as part of her Media course for the Galway Technical Institute:

"Eden nightclub the gay club had its grand opening in its new location in Galway last night. This reporter, for one, was pleasantly surprised by the whole affair. Eden to those “on the scene” is nothing new, previous incarnations have been in the Warwick Hotel and in the hole of a room above The Pucan. That venue is currently home to Babylon the main other choice for the gay in Galway. A black hole of sexuality if ever there was.

So it was with some trepidation that I weaved my merry way to the festivities. Which has taken up residence in the dreaded Club Pi (or club if your feeling scientific). Club Pi or Churchlane as it may better be known to Galwegians has always preformed below its ability and location. So presumably the management hoping to make any profit have embraced the “pink euro”.

Eden opened its door at ten pm and attempted to lure all available customers with the attractive entrance fee of 5 euro. Mind you interest was such around the more Rainbow friendly areas of town (stage door) suggested that a big crowd would be there good price or no.

Upon my fashionably late entrance the club, made easier by some lovely bouncers, upstairs on the first floor was busy but not packed to the point of suffocation, always a plus. The bar was accessible but the staff was slow. The place also lacked a cocktail bar, what is a gay club without a cocktail bar? The lighting was low and the décor congenial to the atmosphere, which was more eclectic then electric.

The DJ who clearly knew his clientele stuck like glue to the more fabulous end of the musical spectrum. I in my reviewing capacity took straight to the dance floor with a few more prominent member of the scene who can always be relied on in a dance-off.

The proceedings where kicked of by the indomitable Penny Tration a lady proud of her traveller roots and well versed in keeping an unruly crowd under control. Funny, light-hearted and just this side of insulting. A Joy! Then the current alternative Miss Galway took to the stage (box in the corner) and treated us to her rendition of “Your Gonna Love Me “ which would have been more alluring had her dress not kept falling off. Also her male boy dancer left much to be desired. This notwithstanding the entertainment did what it intended I was entertained as were the boys I was with.

Eden is a new ray of light on an otherwise dull gay scene in Galway, mind you novelty will do that for you. There has been comment by some gays that the location right in the centre of Shop St is a step forward in acceptance. This reporter just finds it more accessible. If you gay in Galway it appears that Eden is the place to be. I’ll be going back for sure."

There is nothing more annoying than heading out for a drink with one of your friends to catch up on all the gossip when you are disturbed mid conversation by an "unwanted admirer". The "admirer" can be of any age but is usually an older man who is so off his rocker that you could be ugly betty and he wouldnt know the difference. And God love him, no matter how many hints you drop, you can be sure he wont go away. Now dont get me wrong, we ladies love male attention but not when you are coming to the juiciest bit of the story!
So when the Galway heats of Mr GaY Ireland came around last weekend, those of us in the After Dark camp were more than happy to go along, relaxed in the knowledge that us single ladies wouldnt be hassled by unwanted male attention. Glad rags on we headed to the Warwick in Salthill on Sunday Night for the Eden Experience organised event, which selects a winner to represent Galway in the grand final in the The George on October 27th. Ordering drinks at the ballroom bar, my friend and I got some funny looks from the girls and guys there. As the pageant got underwayy with red PVC clad Miss Penni-Tration taking the reins, we overheard a lesbian couple commenting "i wonder if they're a couple" and then "yeah i reckon they are, they've been together all night" Still although the comments were off target, it was an indication of the total acceptance and non batting of eyelids at the event, which is totally gay, lesbian, bi and transsexual friendly.
In fact , Eden exoerience founders Peter and Enda, who organised the heats in sligo, donegal and galway, are so passionate that gay clubbers should have somewhere to express themselves and hang out that they ahve been running Eden club nights in Galway for over 2 years. Although the Junction nights have ceased the pair tell me they hope to have a new venue in the city centre in the next month.
..... Not wanting to miss out on any of the action and actually feeling a bit unloved with not a man or lesbian even approaching to chat us up we hit the dance floor and boy were we sorry. The usual queen s of the dance floor were put to shame by the moves and percise rhythm of gay men!....

blah blah blah....
The girls in the ballroom no matter what their sexuality were so open mouthed you would think Brad Pitt had hit the stage when the 3rd contestant paul took off his shirt! I n fact we were nearly crying that the 30 year old was gay......

Arriving on stage to a rapturous applause was 22 year old HILTON HOLIAN, an office manager from tuam who felt he should be chosen to represent Galway as he was a genuine Galwegian and it was time to put galway on the map in dublin. Miss penni-tration was not too impressed when Hilton revealed that the maddest thing he had ever done was get engaged to his lesbian friend, and penni joked: and you wonder why we people are so prejudice against us?.......

.....

Miss alternative galway Hot Chilli Jenny was on standby in her long dress to help the judges decide the winner as she belted out the colours of the wind. But it seemed the reception given to Hilton earlier had made him favourite to win and Mr Holian now succeeds last years mr gay galway -Aidan o mara. And judging from sunday night there will be buses of supporters heading to big smoke to cheer him on in the final next month.

As for us girls,well we didnt get chatted up, but we caught up on the gossip and learnt some new dance moves!

Grainne McMahon.CONNAUGHT TRIBUNE Friday Sept 21st.