Friday night saw the inaugural Gay and Lesbian Awards (GALAS) take place in Dublin, hosted by journalist Una Mullalley and television presenter Derek Mooney.

According to the relevant blurb, “The GALAS were set up by the National Lesbian and Gay Federation to honour lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people and organisations for their contributions to Irish society, both north and south of the border. The awards are also to honour politicians, employers and others committed to achieving equality and social acceptance for LGBT people in Ireland.”

Twelve awards were presented to individuals, organisations, community groups, and businesses from across the island of Ireland. The winners were eventually chosen from longlists in each category (which were formed from the public votes), and all of the nominees were so deserving. The nominations process involved longlists formed from the public vote, then shortlisting by a range of regional organisations, and the winners being chosen by the board of the NLGF. (Reading through all the names on the wee brochure, it must have been extremely difficult for all of the judges to make their decisions throughout the process. I’ve included the longlists at the end of this post.)

Those who were selected to win, were presented with an award comprising a glazed ceramic with a slate base, designed by lesbian artist Mo Moloney. According to the Carlow Nationalist, Mo Moloney is a graduate of NCAD, and has worked as an architectural ceramicist for many years, contributing to many restoration and public art projects. Much of her work has been concerned with the fragmentary quality of memory, incorporating images and domestic detail gleaned from her Co. Tipperary childhood and other sources. The concept of the design for the GALAs award was to capture the idea of passing on the torch within the LGBT community.

Not wanting to sound too schmaltzy, but there was a real atmosphere of warmth and community spirit throughout the evening. Everyone there was mingling and chatting throughout the evening. It was wonderful to see so many diverse and creative members of the LGBT community together in one room.

Two moments stand out for me, at least. The first was when the award for Volunteer of the Year was won jointly by LGBT Noise and Noel Walsh. There was a standing ovation of sustained applause when the award was accepted on Noel’s behalf, and real emotion could be felt from everyone in the room, in honour of such a great man who achieved so much campaigning in relation to HIV and combating stigma and discrimination.

The second was when the Person of the Year was won by Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan. I may be repeating what many people have said before, but these women are so inspirational due to their overwhelming positivity, their enthusiasm, their unyielding determination to achieve social justice. A video testimonial was played before they accepted their award, and two things that were said seemed to sum up these women: one is that they are at the same time ordinary and extraordinary; and that one of their colleagues from An Cosán/The Shanty expressed how she felt that Katherine and Ann Louise had taught her to love.

Rory O’Neill (aka the fabulous Panti) won the award for LGBT Business Person of the Year, but as Panti is currently performing in her show as part of the Theatre Festival, he was unable to be there in person. Rory did, however, record a video of his acceptance speech, and paid tribute to the manager of Panti Bar, Shane.

BeLonG To deservedly won Community Organisation of the Year, and staff and volunteers were present to accept the award. It’s a long way since the group’s origins as OutYouth, and BeLonG To is now a nationwide organisation, with an army of staff, volunteers and members. I think it’s safe to say that the importance of BeLonG To for young LGBT people in Ireland cannot be overstated.

Gay Friendly Politician of the Year was won by the fabulous, and tireless Ivana Bacik, who is not only a Senator, but is also Reid Professor of Law at Trinity College Dublin and is a fellow of the university and a lecturer, barrister (including being junior counsel on a certain legal team tackling the issue of marriage equality), full-time advocate for equality, and.. I’m sorry, what was I talking about again?

Oh yes! Senator David Norris won the Molly Malone Irish Gay Icon of the Year, and as he is soaking up the sun in Cyprus, his award was accepted on his behalf by Tonie Walsh. Tonie was able to inform the audience of the situation of David’s former partner, Ezra Nawi (Facebook), who has been charged with a criminal offence by the Israeli authorities. Ezra is an Israeli human rights activist, who works to try to halt the destruction of Bedouin homes in Israel, and has been accused of assault on an Israeli soldier. Apparently, the video footage shows otherwise.

The Media Representation of the Year was won by the courageous and tireless Margaret Gill, whom many may remember from her appearance on The Late Late Show in 2008. She is unfortunately out of the country at the moment, but her award was accepted on her behalf by her son, who read an eloquent and direct letter from Margaret, who expressed her thanks and her passionate belief in the need for full marriage equality in Ireland now.

The other winners of the night were Mick Quinlan (and his wonderful bum) who won the Noel Walsh HIV Campaigner Award; the Bingham Cup, Dublin 2008 for Event of the Year; Jackie McKeown, of the Newry Democrat for Journalist of the Year; and Google for Employer of the Year.

I apologise if I’ve forgotten any other memorable events of the night. I was so bewildered at having to speak publicly when Gaelick was announced as Blogger of the Year (I’m much more coherent behind a keyboard..), that a sizeable chunk of the evening is a bit blurry.. Please feel free to fill me in in the comments!

Here be the winners in full..!

Volunteer of the Year
This was won jointly by LGBT Noise and Noel Walsh.
(Runners up: Martin Greenwood; shOUT!; MarriagEquality; Anna McCarthy.)

Community Organisation of the Year
BeLonG To
(Runners up: Gay Switchboard Dublin; Gemini.)

Employer of the Year
Google
(Runners up: University College Cork (UCC); Loafers/Rena Blake.)

Gay Friendly Politician of the Year
Senator Ivana Bacik
(Runners up: Senator David Norris; Eamon Gilmore, T.D.)

LGBT Business Person of the Year
Rory O’Neill
(Runners up: Stepehn McEvoy; Mike Shinnors.)

Journalist of the Year
Jackie McKeown
(Runners up: Quentin Fotrell; Noel Walsh.)

Media Represenation of the Year
Margaret Gill
(Runners up: Seacht; LGBT Noise.)

Blogger of the Year
Gaelick
(Runners up: Panti’s Blog-Job; Dermod – A Bit of Bon Homie.)

Event of the Year
The Bingham Cup, Dublin 2008
(Runners up: Dublin Gay Theatre Festival 2008; Dublin Pride 2008.)

Noel Walsh HIV Campaigner Award
Mick Quinlan
(Runners up: Jimmy Goulding; The Gay Men’s Health Service.)

Moly Malone Irish Gay Icon of the Year
Senator David Norris
(Runners up: Miss Panti; Mary Robinson.)

GALAs 2009 LONGLIST

Community Organisation

BeLonG To; Outhouse; Johnny; gaycork.com; Glória; LGBT Noise; Dublin Gay Theatre Festival; Out In Ireland; Dublin Devils; Spunout; Listowel Family Resource Centre; QueerID; Gemini Club; Gay Switchboard Dublin; Dining Out; Gay Men’s Health Service; Emerald Warriors; Newry Rainbow; Dublin Pride; Dundalk Outcomers; Cork Gay Community Project; MarriagEquality; I Love Limerick 2008; Outwest; Rainbow Support Service; Kerry Gay & Lesbian Project; GLEN; Labour LGBT; Southern Gay Men’s Health Project; L.Inc; Out In UL; Changing Attitudes Ireland.

Volunteer

LGBT Noise; Con O’Rourke; Jonathan Neville; Ian Howley; Emily Scanlon; Noel Walsh; Michelle Farrell; Anna McCarthy; Mark O’Donovan; Tony Rose; ladylist.ie; Panti/Rory O’Neill; Frank Cleary; Barry Kelly; Louise Hannon; Chris Mallon; Billie at Red Ribbon Project; Colm Keane; Stephen Fallon; Gráinne Healy; Katherine Zappone; Mareen Loony & Sandra Murtagh; Martin Greenwood; Dublin Pride Volunteers; MarriagEquality Volunteers; shOUT!; Richard Bunn; Mark Rooney; Evelyn Quinn; Gary Tiernan; Michael Dillon.

Employer

Google; Pantibar/Rory O’Neill; Zenith For Men; Trinity College Dublin; East Coast Radio; Microsoft Ireland; Loafers Bar/Rena Blake; Waterstones; University College Cork; Paul Davey.

Gay Friendly Politician

Sen. David Norris; Joan Burton, T.D.; Sen. Ivana Bacik; Seán Power, T.D.; Ciarán Cuffe, T.D.; Michael D Higgins, T.D.; Mary Coughlan, T.D.; Eamon Gilmore, T.D.; Brendan Howlin, T.D.; President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.

LGBT Business Person

Stephen McEvoy/Stephen Thomas Face & Body Clinic; Rory O’Neill; Bill Hughes; Louis Walsh; Side by Side B&B; Rena Blake; Joe Macken/Jo Burger; Eamon Farrell; Mike Shinnors/Rainbow Retreats; Dan Lawless/Lawless Flowers; Vicki Mullan & Co.; Alan Clarke; Gruel; The Bay Tree Restaurant; Mark O’Sullivan; Robert Dogget.

Journalist

Quentin Fotrell; Fearghus De Mordha; Marie Mulholland; Jack Quann; Ali Bracken; Dermod Moore; Jarlath Gregory; Carl O’Brien; Jackie McKeown; Trevor Keegan; Stephen King; Una Mulally; Noel Walsh; Declan Cashin; Lesley Murphy.

Media Representation

Boyzone’s video, “Better”; Anna Nolan; Lesley Murphy; The Late Late Show; Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh; Raw (RTÉ); Joanna Ryde; Dave Thomas/Dt Media; BeLonG To; Bill Maher; Seacht (TG4/BBC); Margaret Gill; LGBT Noise.

Blogger

Playlife Mania; Dermod Moore/A Bit of Bonhomie; Panti’s Blog-Job; Suzy Byrne/Maman Poulet; Stephen Spillane; John James Hickey; Powder-Vein/David Nugent; Gaelick; Mustard on the Hedge; Strike Curious Poses; Una Mulally; Seán O’Grady; Joanna Ryde; Gay Sky Hooker; Thomas Byrne; The Angry Hedgehog; Laura Cavanagh; Damien Mulley.

Event

Alternative Miss Ireland; Dublin Gay Theatre Festival; Dublin Pride; Bingham Cup; Gaze Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival; BeLonG To’s Gay Prom; KISS; Glória’s Christmas Concert; I Love Limerick 2008; Q+A; CaKe; Belfast Pride.

Noel Walsh HIV Campaigner

Mick Quinlan; Jimmy Gouldin; Tonie Walshe; Gay Men’s Health Project.

Molly Malone Irish Gay Icon

Chris Sutton/Daniel Holfield; Ian Howley; Molly Malone; Pat Kenny; Mark O’Halloran; Oscar Wilde; Anna Nolan; Twink; Barry Meegan; Dermot Devoy; Mary Robinson; Brian Dowling; Holly Heartbreak; Noel Walsh; Sen. David Norris; Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan.

Person of the Year

Sen. David Norris; Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan; Rory O’Neill; Michael Barron; Michael Dillon; Richard Lynch; Louise VB; Noel Walsh; Dermot Devoy; Ian Howley; Stephen Thomas; Noel Sutton; Mary McAleese; Gordon Darcy; Richie Whyte; Rev Mervyn Kingston; Carola and Sinéad Sheridan; Paul Madden; Barack Obama; Denise Charlton; Brian Dowling; Martin Greenwood.