The GALAS, Ireland’s annual awards ceremony recognising those making outstanding contributions to the LGBTQ+ community, has announced the hosts and nominee shortlists for 2024. Organised by the National LGBT Federation (NXF) in partnership with GCN, this year’s event takes place in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre at the Radisson Blue Hotel on Saturday, October 5.

Hosting the proceedings will be Paul Ryder and Cassie Stokes. 

Paul is a triple-threat performer appearing on stages, screens and airwaves for nearly 20 years. He is particularly loved among the community for his drag artistry, famous for featuring at Pride events and queer club nights across the country.

Cassie Stokes is a presenter and online content creator with hundreds of thousands of followers across her social media channels. Known for spotlighting the ‘Best Of’ what Ireland has to offer, there is no one more suited to awarding those making the country a better place for the Irish LGBTQ+ community.

The dynamic hosts will guide audiences through the 13 GALAS 2024 categories, acknowledging the efforts made by individuals, organisations and companies who work towards a better future for LGBTQ+ people in Ireland. Members of the public nominated their choices, which were subsequently reduced to a shortlist chosen by Irish advocacy groups.

Speaking about the shortlist announcement, Steve Jacques, NXF Board Director and Nominations Coordinator for the GALAS, said: “The quality and quantity of nominations this year is once again a testament to the amazing work being done to progress LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion across Ireland.

“The shortlists reflect a fraction of the efforts being made by individuals, organisations and companies to support the community amid rising extremism and hostility, particularly directed at trans folk and migrants who have faced increased threats over the last year. The work done by those listed below reminds us not only that there is much to celebrate, but also much still to fight for.

“We congratulate them all on their achievements and their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, and look forward to the awards ceremony in October.”

With just under a month to go to this year’s highly-anticipated event, the NXF and GCN are excited to announce the shortlist for each category as follows:

Community Organisation of the Year – paid staff
Gay Project
GOSHH
Midlands LGBT+ Project
Outhouse

Community Organisation of the Year – volunteer staff
Clonmel Pride
Intersex Ireland
Trans Healthcare Action
Wicklow Pride

Volunteer of the Year
Anastasia McCormac
Ginell Healy
Mark O’Looney Cannon
Patricia Carey

Event of the Year
Bród na Gaeltachta 2024
Dublin Pride Run 2024
Dublin Trans & Intersex Pride 2024
LINC Q-Con Conference 2023

Joe Drennan – LGBTQ+ Young Trailblazer
CJ Smith
Conor Tormey
Jenny Maguire
Sarah Murray

Sports
Dublin Front Runners
In4Squash
Laochra Aeracha
Phoenix Tigers FC

Arts & Entertainment
Delishus O’Toole
Drag & Draw
Nazli Yildirim
Rory Cashin

Noel Walsh HIV Activism
Ann Mason
Bill Foley
MPOWER Programme Volunteers
Will Kennedy

LGBTQ+ Ally
Bohemian Football Club
Offaly Local Development Company
Prof. Agnes Higgins (TCD)
Tim Matthews

Outstanding Company
Accenture
Bank of Ireland
EY Ireland
PayPal

LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group
EY’s Unity Network
LGBTQ+ @ Sky Ireland Network Group
Pride@Accenture ERG
Proud to Work for Ireland Network (PWIN)

Person of the Year
David Norris
Maeve Delargy
Patrick Bracken
Ranae von Meding

Tickets are on sale now for the GALAS Awards; get yours before it’s too late!