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The Outing Festival 2024 - The Inn at Dromoland in County Clare will host The Outing this coming Valentine’s weekend from February 9th to 11th. Picture: Eamon Ward The Outing Festival 2024 - The Inn at Dromoland in County Clare will host The Outing this coming Valentine’s weekend from February 9th to 11th. Picture: Eamon Ward

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The Outing Festival 2024 – The World’s Only LGBTQ+ Matchmaking Festival Returns February 9 – 11

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The Outing Festival 2024 – The Inn at Dromoland in County Clare will host The Outing this coming Valentine’s weekend from February 9th to 11th. Picture: Eamon Ward

The Outing Festival 2024 is expected to attract more than 1,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight singles and couples

Eddie McGuinness, Festival Director of The Outing. Picture: Arthur Carron Photography

The Inn at Dromoland in County Clare has been confirmed as the host venue for the next five years of the world’s only LGTBQ+ matchmaking festival.

Now in its 11th year, The Outing Festival 2024 is expected to attract more than 1,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight singles and couples from across Ireland and overseas to the County Clare venue this coming Valentine’s weekend from February 9th to 11th.

Organised in conjunction with The Outing Queer Arts Collective with support from Fáilte Ireland, Blacknight Solutions, Visit Clare, Limerick Pride, and Quare Clare, The Outing Festival 2024 is an award-winning fusion of music, comedy, ceilí bands, queer arts, and the best of Irish and international performers, drag artists and DJs. This year’s event is being hosted by “The Queen of Matchmaking”, Eddie McGuinness, and Victoria’s Secret.


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Eddie McGuinness, who is the Festival Director of The Outing,commented, “We are delighted to have secured a lasting home for our festival and are excited about delivering an LGBTQ+ weekend like no other.”

“People have travelled from all over the world to our festival in previous years to enjoy pop-up clubs, drag performances, comedy, live music, arts, literary and film festivals and interactive events,” he added. “Of course, matchmaking plays a huge part in the festival. With more than a hundred relationships and two marriages, I have helped play a part in putting together our event in recent years. The Outing also acts as a celebration of the LGTBQ+ community, so whether you’re single or taken gay, trans, straight or bi, all are welcome to this fun weekend.”

The festival is a fusion of music, comedy, ceilí bands, queer arts
The festival is a fusion of music, comedy, ceilí bands, queer arts. Photo: Eamon Ward

The Outing Festival 2024 co-host Victoria’s Secret commented, “I am excited to escape to the West after what already feels like the longest January on record. Whether you’re coming to find love, mix and mingle with some new faces or just have a bop amongst like-minded people, there is something for everyone at The Outing. So, pop on something sparkly, shake off the January blues and come party with me. Well, it’s Valentine’s, after all.”

Drag queen and gay rights activist Panti Bliss, a long standing supporter of the festival, said, “The Outing takes something quintessentially Irish and dips it in glitter. It opens up the idea of traditional Irishness to the LGBT community and says, actually, yes, you can be LGBT and still be as Irish.”

The Outing 2024 takes place at The Inn at Dromoland, Newmarket-On-Fergus, County Clare on February 9th to 11th, 2024.

Visit www.theouting.ie for ticket and event details.

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