Mr Bear Ireland 2025 was crowned this weekend in an event as wild as its participants. Béar Féile was held over four days from March 20 to March 23, and saw a huge amount of exciting hairy happenings sponsored by some of Ireland’s most well-regarded queer venues and organisations, including Pantibar, Street66, DV8, The George, The Boilerhouse, Button Factory, and Pennylane.

The festivities kicked off on Thursday with registration and continued through to Sunday, offering a packed schedule of events. The main competition took place on Saturday night, with doors opening at 9pm. The audience was treated to an energetic performance by Upbeat Generation, a band known for their eclectic mix of soul, pop, disco, and hits from the ’80s and ’90s. Their set lasted around two hours, setting the perfect tone before the main event began at 11pm.

 

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Shane, one of the members of the Dublin Bears, took to the stage as the evening’s emcee before introducing the legendary Panti Bliss, who hosted the competition. Six contestants took turns stepping onto the stage to introduce themselves, answer questions, and showcase their dance moves to the audience. The crowd played a vital role in the judging process, with audience cheers contributing to the final scores.

A panel of judges was assembled to select Mr Bear Ireland 2025, including Mr Dublin Leather, Puppy Ireland, founder of Dublin Leather Weekend John O’Brien, and two previous Mr Bear Ireland titleholders. Their deliberations took place while the evening’s raffle was drawn, offering a range of hot prizes (in more ways than one), such as a six-month pass to The Boilerhouse and weekend passes to next year’s Bear Féile.

 

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Finally, as excitement built in the venue, John O’Brien returned to the stage to announce the winner. The title of Mr Bear Ireland 2025 was awarded to Eamon Bishop, marking the beginning of his year representing the Irish bear community.  

The event was a joyful and affirming celebration, highlighting the strength and inclusivity of the bear scene in Ireland. With its mix of live music, lively competition, and a strong sense of community, there is no doubt that Mr Bear Ireland will continue to be a major highlight in the queer social calendar.