In an incredible night of fundraising and amateur drag, GCN’s brand new event So You Think You Can Drag made its triumphant debut at The George last weekend.

Hosted by the fabulous Davina Devine, the event saw nine fabulous contestants don their finest drag and take to the stage with jaw-dropping dance moves, lipsyncing and even live singing, all while raising funds for GCN, Ireland’s free national LGBTQ+ media.

Taking place on Friday, March 14, GCN’s So You Think You Can Drag kicked off the St. Patrick’s weekend festivities in true queer style. Drag legend Davina Devine had the audience rolling with laughter as she introduced our wonderful contestants to the stage.

Competing for the crown were none other than social media stars Keelin Moncrieff and Jack Swift, Trinity Students’ Union President and activist Jenny Maguire, Dykon founder Mafalda ‘Mafi’ Hrušková, artist Venus Patel, Out in Kink’s Murray, Shamrock Sióga’s Danny Carby-Robinson, Na Gaeil Aeracha’s Karl Hatton and Phoenix Tigers’ Kelsey Ateya.

The performers gave it their all in a quest for the title before the winner was chosen by the crowd. While it was a very tough competition, one contestant emerged victorious, gathering the most cheers from the audience: Shamrock Sióga’s Danny Carby-Robinson, who for the night became Khia (The) Asylum!

The event was proudly sponsored by Absolut Vodka and The George and also featured a raffle with prizes kindly donated by Candlelight Cabaret and Piglet Wine Bar.

The night was a huge success, raising vital funds in support of GCN. With a not-for-profit model, our organisation operates on limited resources and has been greatly impacted by rising business costs. Recently, to ensure the long-term sustainability of GCN, we have made the decision to move from a bimonthly print edition to four editions this year.

Amid an increasingly hostile global political climate and the rise of hate and misinformation, now more than ever, our community needs a free, accessible, independent media organisation that tells our side of the story. It is vital that GCN remains a safe and trustworthy space where the community is informed, represented and amplified.

The funds raised at GCN’s So You Think You Can Drag event will help us continue our work as Ireland’s free independent LGBTQ+ media and ensure we can keep engaging with the community, support groups and allies, spotlighting our culture and talent, and acting as the central hub for LGBTQ+ lives in Ireland.

On behalf of everyone at GCN, a huge thank you to all our gorgeous contestants, our fabulous host Davina Devine, our sponsors The George and Absolut and everyone who attended and supported the event, we hope you all had an incredible night!