TV

19 Bad Ass Lesbian and Bisexual Irish Women

This Friday, the people of Ireland will vote on same-sex marriage. If the referendum passes, the country will be the first to legalize it by popular vote and not in legislature. We love our Irish readers, so what better time to celebrate some of their most well-known lesbian/bi women than before their homeland makes history? (We’re optimists.)

Here are 19 Irish LGBT lasses to discover if you haven’t already.

The 56-year-old actress has done everything from classic theater to film to TV. Some of her best known work is as Petuna Dursley in Harry Potter, but she also played True Blood‘s head witch in charge, Marnie Stonebrook, in Season 4.

The Grammy-winning musician is a celebrated songwriter and vocalist who also loves drumming up a little bit of controversy. While she’s changed her tune on her sexual identity several times, at last count, she was professing her interest in both men and women alike. On Twitter: @SineadOconnorHQ

The X-Factor star lost in semi-finals but has scored two record deals since. Although she wasn’t out on the show, Mary revealed her two-year relationship with a woman in her memoir, This is My Life. On Twitter: @marybyrnemusic

The singer/songwriter first rose to fame at age 16 after performing on RTE, and she’s recorded three albums since. Leanne came out in 2010 and is actively using her voice to advocate for a vote YES on the referendum. On Twitter: @leanne_harte

The 19-year-old has an album, Before We Forgot to Dream, coming out on June 2nd. This week she wrote a passionate piece on why she’s voting for equality, published in NME. On Twitter: @soakofficial

The longtime couple first took on marriage equality in Ireland with the KAL case from 2004-2006. The outcome wasn’t what they hoped and so they’ve been even more loud and proud this time around. Ann is an ex-nun and retired “feminist theologian” (amazing!). And while Katherine was born in the States, she is now an Irish senator. On Twitter @senatorkzappone

The TV presenter is also a former nun (sensing a trend here!) who first appeared on Ireland’s Big Brother in 2000. She went on to work behind the camera as a producer for BBC, RTÉ and is now a Development Executive for COCO Television. On Twitter: @annanolan70

Another TV producer, Helen was the first woman to ever hold the position of Director of Television Production at RTÉ. She has spoken out about the homophobia she experienced while working at the network. On Twitter: @helenorahilly

Born to Sri Lankan parents, Dil leads discussions about social justice and mental health on NewsTalk’s Global Village every Saturday night. She also co-founded Insight Matters, an organization providing counseling and psychotherapy and specializing in areas of gender identity and the mental health of LGBTQs, migrants and refugees. On Twitter: @dilw

The bisexual co-founder of Wildfang is behind the tomboy lifestyle brand’s bad ass campaigns with the likes of Megan Rapinoe, Kate Moennig and Evan Rachel Wood. Born in Ireland, she now lives in Portland, Oregon. On Twitter: @irishem333

The out lesbian made history last year when she was the first ever gay lady to be named the Rose of Tralee. The annual contest honors Ireland’s “ultimate Irish woman,” and Maria has represented Ireland all over her country and the world since her big win.

The Irish singer/songwriter has toured with Ed Sheerhan and is now on the road with Lucy Spraggan and has a new album coming out later this year. On Twitter: @kallavelle

Dearbhla has directed episodes of EastEnders, Shameless and The Tudors. and won an Emmy in 2009 for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special for Part I of her mini-series Little Dorrit. In her acceptance speech, she thanked her partner, Anna Nolan (who was listed above!). More recently, she’s directed two episodes of Showtime’s Penny Dreadful.

The Cork footballer has won nine all-Ireland titles during her time on the field, and now she’s winning over hearts and minds after coming out as a lesbian on the RTE documentary, Coming Out of the Curve. On Twitter: @valeriemulcahy

The field hockey star came out in 2014 during a broadcast of RTE’s Second Captains sports show. She now works as a sports commentator and reporter and holds the honor of “the most capped player of all time in Irish hockey history and the highest capped female athlete in Ireland.” On Twitter: @niksymmons

The award-winning author of Room, Frog Music, Inseparable and several other titles has joint Irish-Canadian citizenship after moving to London, Ontario in 1998. She has two children with her partner, women’s studies and feminist research professor Chris Roulston. On Twitter: @edonoghuewriter

A celebrated poet, novelist and essayist, Mary was awarded the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature in 1990 for her short story collection A Noise from the Woodshed.

Dublin-born Shani has published six novels, but is also a talented video maker and visual artist. Her most recent title, Moving Forward Sideways like a Crab, was longlisted for the 2014 Scotiabank Giller Prize which recognizes excellence in Canadian fiction, as Shani now lives in Ontario. On Twitter: @shanimootoo

Lesbian Apparel and Accessories Gay All Day sweatshirt -- AE exclusive

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button