Cú Chulainn and Ferdiad
Digital illustration (2025)

Drawn from the Táin Bó Cuailnge, this piece reimagines the tragic duel between legendary warriors Cú Chulainn and Ferdiad as the end of a deeply intimate love story. Trained together by the warrior-woman Scáthach, they were “heart companions” who once shared a bed and a life. When Ferdiad is forced to fight Cú Chulainn at the ford, love and loyalty clash with honour and fate. This image mourns that loss — two hands on the same sword, not yet enemies, framed in the bonds of Celtic knotwork that bind them still.

Cú Chulainn agus Ferdiad
Léaráid dhigiteach (2025)

Tógtar ón Táin Bó Cuailnge an píosa seo, a athchruthaíonn an t-aistear tragóideach idir na laochra finscéalacha Cú Chulainn agus Ferdiad mar dheireadh le scéal grá fíordhlúth. Rinne an bhanlaoch Scáthach oiliúint orthu le chéile, agus ba “chompánaigh chroí” iad a roinn leaba agus saol tráth. Nuair a cuireadh iallach ar Fherdiad dul i gcath in éadan Chú Chulainn ag an áth, tháinig grá agus dílseacht salach ar onóir agus cinniúint. Caoineann an íomhá seo an chailliúint sin — beirt lámh ar an claíomh céanna, gan a bheith ina naimhde fós, frámaithe i snaidhmcheangail Cheilteacha a cheanglaíonn iad fós.

The Lover Poets
Digital illustration (2025)

In medieval Ireland, a tradition of homoerotic verse flourished among bardic poets. Writing for their lords — and often, it seems, about them — they penned lines like “Proffer your red lips to me” and “It is no adultery to lie with me and my kind.” Though later scholars tried to straight-wash these declarations as poetic jokes, the original imagery tells a different story. Based on a 12th-century woodcut, this piece nods to that legacy with knowing camp: poets mid-declamation, bottoms raised, and a proud, half-eaten pineapple centre stage — queer culture, bardic edition.

Na Filí Grá
Léaráid dhigiteach (2025)

Sa Mheánaois in Éirinn, d’fhorbair traidisiún de véarsaíocht homaerótach i measc fhilí na cúirte. Ag scríobh dá dtiarnaí — agus uaireanta, is cosúil, fúthu — chum siad línte mar “Tair do bhéil dhearga dom” agus “Ní cearrbhachas é luí liomsa is le m’leithéidí.” Cé gur iarracht é scoláirí níos déanaí an grá seo a léiriú mar ghreann díomhaoin, insíonn an íomhá bhunaidh scéal eile. Bunaithe ar ghreannán adhmaid ón 12ú haois, tugann an saothar seo ómós greannmhar don oidhreacht sin: filí i mbun a saothair, leathair ardaithe, agus anann ollmhór ite go leath — cultúr aiteach, le casadh bardúil.

The Ladies of Llangollen
Digital illustration (2025)

In 1778, Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby eloped from Kilkenny to escape the threat of unwanted marriages — and to remain together. With the help of Sarah’s devoted maid Mary Carryl, the pair fled to Wales, eventually settling in Plas Newydd: a lovingly restored Gothic cottage where they lived openly as a couple for over 50 years. The women wore matching riding habits and top hats, hosted Romantic poets, drank hot chocolate from custom cups bearing a joint monogram, and named their dogs Sappho. Mary — known affectionately as “the Bruiser” — remained with them for life, and all three now rest together under a single stone. Whether this was a love triangle or a chosen family, the Ladies of Llangollen lived defiantly and tenderly, on their own terms.

Bantiarnaí Llangollen
Léaráid dhigiteach (2025)

I 1778, theith an Bantiarna Eleanor Butler agus Sarah Ponsonby ó Chill Chainnigh chun pósadh éigeantach a sheachaint — agus le fanacht le chéile. Le cabhair ó mhaighdean dhílis Sharah, Mary Carryl, theith siad go dtí an Bhreatain Bheag, áit ar chuir siad fúthu i bPlas Newydd: teachín Gotach a d’athchóirigh siad agus a rinne siad ina mbaile grá. Chaith siad a saol le chéile i gcóiriú marcaíochta agus hataí ard, ag fáiltiú roimh fhilí Rómánsacha, ag ól seacláide te as cupáin phearsantaithe, agus ag tabhairt ainm Sappho ar a gcuid madraí. D’fhan Mary — ar tugadh “an Bruiser” uirthi — leo go deireadh a saoil, agus cuireadh an triúr le chéile faoin uaigh chéanna. Cibé acu triantán grá nó teaghlach roghnaithe a bhí iontu, mhair Bantiarnaí Llangollen a saol go dána, le trócaire agus le grá dá chéile.

Elizabeth O’Farrell & Sheila Grenan
Digital illustration (2025)

When Elizabeth O’Farrell stepped into enemy fire carrying the white flag of surrender, her partner Sheila Grenan climbed to the roof with a machine gun to cover her. It was an act of love and extraordinary courage.

Together, they smuggled arms, nursed the wounded, and fought for Ireland’s freedom—fearless, loyal, and inseparable. After the Rising, Elizabeth was airbrushed from history. Sheila made sure she was never forgotten.

They are buried side by side in Glasnevin, their headstone quietly honouring a lifetime together:
“Her faithful comrade and lifelong friend.”

Éilís Ní Fhearghail & Síle Ní Ghrionnáin
Léaráid dhigiteach (2025)

Nuair a shiúil Éilís Ní Fhearghail amach faoin tine namhad le bratach bhán na géillte, chuaigh a leannán Síle Ní Ghrionnáin suas ar an díon lena cosaint, ag scaoileadh clúdaithe tine. Gníomh grá ba ea é, agus misneach gan teorainn.

Le chéile, smuigleáil siad arm, thug siad aire do na créachta, agus throid siad ar son saoirse na hÉireann—gan eagla, dílis agus doscartha.

Tar éis an Éirí Amach, baineadh Éilís as stair oifigiúil. D’fhan Síle ina dtaobh. Tá siad curtha taobh le taobh i nGlas Naíon, a leac thuama ag tabhairt ómóis chiúin dá saol le chéile:
“A comrádaí dílis agus a cara buan.”

Micheál Mac Liammóir & Hilton Edwards
Digital illustration (2025)

Partners on and off the stage, Mac Liammóir and Edwards met in 1927 and co-founded the Gate Theatre the following year. Their relationship was an open secret, lived boldly in a time of silence. In 1968—one year before Stonewall—they appeared on RTÉ, affectionately recounting how they met and built a life together. A year later, on The Late Late Show, they spoke again of their shared home and long-standing partnership. Though never naming their queerness aloud, they were seen, and they were embraced. Quiet icons of visibility.

Micheál Mac Liammóir & Hilton Edwards
Léaráid dhigiteach (2025)

Comhpháirtithe ar an stáitse agus sa saol, bhuail Mac Liammóir agus Edwards lena chéile i 1927 agus bhunaigh siad Amharclann an Gate an bhliain dár gcionn. Ba rún oscailte í a gcaidreamh, beo le misneach in aimsir na tost. Sa bhliain 1968—bliain roimh Stonewall—labhair siad le RTÉ faoi mar a casadh iad ar a chéile agus faoin saol a thóg siad le chéile. Ar The Late Late Show an bhliain ina dhiaidh sin, labhair siad arís faoina mbaile roinnte agus a gcaidreamh fada buan. Níor luaigh siad riamh gur aeracha a bhí iontu, ach chonacthas iad, agus glacadh leo. Laochra ciúine infheictheachta.

Bill Foley & Christopher Robson
Digital illustration (2025)

Bill and Chris met at an IGRM party in 1978 and spent the next 35 years together as partners in love and activism. They helped found the Dublin Lesbian and Gay Collective and organised the landmark Fairview march in 1983. During the AIDS crisis, they were key figures in establishing Gay Health Action and the Dublin AIDS Alliance. Chris, a gifted photographer, documented decades of LGBTQ+ life and protest, while Bill wrote and organised tirelessly. Both played central roles in decriminalisation and later civil partnership. Chris passed away just days after they formalised their union in 2013. As Bill said, “In the end we were both very lucky.”

Bill Foley & Christopher Robson
Léaráid dhigiteach (2025)

Bhuail Bill agus Chris lena chéile ag cóisir IGRM i 1978 agus chaith siad 35 bliain le chéile mar chomhpháirtithe grá agus gníomhaíochta. Bhunaigh siad an Dublin Lesbian and Gay Collective agus d’eagraigh siad mórshiúl stairiúil Fairview i 1983. Le linn ghéarchéim an VEID, bhí siad lárnach i mbunú Gay Health Action agus an Dublin AIDS Alliance. Ba ghrianghrafadóir cumasach é Chris, a thaifid blianta de shaol agus agóid LADT+, agus scríobh Bill go dícheallach agus d’eagraigh sé imeachtaí. Bhí ról lárnach ag an mbeirt acu i díchoiriú agus i bpáirtnéireacht shibhialta. Fuair Chris bás díreach cúpla lá tar éis dóibh a gcaidreamh a dhaingniú go hoifigiúil i 2013. Mar a dúirt Bill, “Sa deireadh, bhí an t-ádh linn.”

Ann Louise Gilligan & Katherine Zappone
Digital illustration (2025)

Ann Louise Gilligan and Katherine Zappone met at Boston College in 1981 and decided to spend their lives together just six weeks later. They returned to Ireland and co-founded An Cosán, an education centre for women in disadvantaged areas.

In 2004, they launched a landmark legal case to have their Canadian marriage recognised in Ireland. Though ultimately unsuccessful in court, their case sparked a national conversation that helped lead to the 2015 Marriage Equality referendum.

On the day of the Yes result, Katherine asked Anna Louise to marry her again—this time in Ireland. They lived together until Ann Louise’s death in 2017.

Ann Louise Gilligan & Katherine Zappone
Léaráid dhigiteach (2025)

Bhuail Ann Louise Gilligan agus Katherine Zappone le chéile i gColáiste Boston sa bhliain 1981, agus laistigh de shé seachtaine, bheartaigh siad a saol a chaitheamh le chéile. D’fhill siad ar Éirinn agus bhunaigh siad An Cosán, ionad oideachais do mhná i gceantair faoi mhíbhuntáiste.

Sa bhliain 2004, sheol siad cás dlí ceannródaíoch chun a bpósadh Ceanadach a bheith aitheanta in Éirinn. Cé nár éirigh leo sa chúirt, spreag a gcás comhrá náisiúnta a d’fhág go raibh reifreann ar chomhionannas pósta sa bhliain 2015.

Ar lá thoradh an vóta Yes, d’iarr Katherine ar Anna Louise í a phósadh arís—an uair seo in Éirinn. Mhair siad le chéile go dtí bás Ann Louise i 2017.