Supporting our own...

[fada]

I know it may sound a bit elitist, or maybe bitchy (but then again... no surprise coming from me) but shouldn't we be supporting our own??

Like support our own bars, café's etc etc....

Riddlers is open, are y'all regulars?

The coffee dock closed, people didn't support it...

Rainbow downsized...

Does anyone here agree that we should, as members of the LGBT community, be supporting our own gay enterprises/groups?

(yes.. this is slightly disjointed)

[falcon]

Of course, we have the same problem in cork...A new venue opens somewhere and everyone rushes off to it for a few weeks which puts HUGE pressure on therir local...then they get bored and come back with their tail between their legs..pathetic really..but hey..thats the gays for ya!...asses are always tighter on the other side :D

[fada]

Yea, that's true,
I'm a bit annoyed, cause people seem to think that things will be served up on a plate, a scene, support, pride etc etc etc, and then when things go wrong, or aren't to their liking, they bitch and bitch and bitch, when it's most likely their fault that the problem has arisen, because they haven't supported the ventures.

my 2 cents...
Fada

[SunFlower]

i think there are three trains of thought here:

first off, the LGBT scene in limerick is, in some respects, very young. as homosexuality becomes better tolerated, more people come out, and more will frequent these establishments. but that's a bit longer term.

second, people are creatures of habit. they DO have their local. just because a venue is 'gay' doesn't mean its a good venue (i dont mean Riddlers, i actually really LIKE Riddlers!). Gay pubs used to just be able to trade on their name alone, but as homosexuality becomes more tolerated in straight venues (in moderation), gay pubs need to step up a bit and come up with more drink promos, entertainment, etc.

finally, (again) as homosexuality becomes more tolerated, there will be less of a need for gay-only spaces. in an ideal world, clubs for heteros and homos would be integrated. that's...a long way away lol

[falcon]

i think there are three trains of thought here:

first off, the LGBT scene in limerick is, in some respects, very young. as homosexuality becomes better tolerated, more people come out, and more will frequent these establishments. but that's a bit longer term.

second, people are creatures of habit. they DO have their local. just because a venue is 'gay' doesn't mean its a good venue (i dont mean Riddlers, i actually really LIKE Riddlers!). Gay pubs used to just be able to trade on their name alone, but as homosexuality becomes more tolerated in straight venues (in moderation), gay pubs need to step up a bit and come up with more drink promos, entertainment, etc.

finally, (again) as homosexuality becomes more tolerated, there will be less of a need for gay-only spaces. in an ideal world, clubs for heteros and homos would be integrated. that's...a long way away lol



Thats the way it is in finland and norway...gay soldiers getting it on on the dance floor, and no one batts a drunken eyelid...mmmm 6.5 blonde soldiers *wets self*

[howiyiz]

i wanna go 2 sweden hehehehe

[fada]

I hear ya sunflower,
I know gay establishments have to trade on more than their name, and I think Riddlers is doing a fantastic job of it. I'm talking of those who complain about not having the services, and then don't support it....
We have an emerging scene, where we once had a good one, but it fell...
Limerick is very gay tolerant, and TBH, I can't wait to see the day when we won't have gay establishments, cause everywhere will be gay friendly!

[SunFlower]

"but I know, wheeeere I've beeeen" ;)

[fada]

"but I know, wheeeere I've beeeen" ;)
"There's a road we must travel, lost so many 'long the way,"

;)

[Merack]

Breanoh makes some brilliant points!

I agree fully that we should support our own so that our own will flourish! It's like my manager says, "We'll buy from our own, but sell to everyone!" and ya know what, he's damn right!

Why bother hold big events, fundraisers or other social gatherings in hetro venues? Sure they have plenty of custom and support already!

The one big thing that the LGBT community needs to have is consistency! If we want something to work then we need to work at it constantly! Look how far along Riddlers has come for example since it has finally entered "all gay" management, and the bar has been "Gayed up" and we find entertainment on every saturday night now? Oh and it's free entry which is a great way of helping people come in as opposed to ripping customers off with hefty door charges!

Another little area that needs some work is the older generation and the younger generation working closer to organize things such as Limerick Pride, or other social events! This requires nothings more than people who are willing to say what ideas they might have, and be willing to chase them up! These forums will be a magnificent medium in which to express such thoughts. :)

Anywho I've said enough for now!

[StarBoi]

i agree with merack, i mean Riddlers is a great place and what i love about it, is you can go in at any time and it has a real friendly atmosphere i mean everyone chats, it has its different nights if your bored after work you can go in talk to the bar tenders watch the locals sing or play games, i mean its just such a good thing to do in there.

what i think the problem is people are too afraid to try new things, i mean everyone is like "I wont go to riddlers" because of a place it used to be, its very different now so why not give it a try, i personally love the place, saturday is always a laugh with different theme nights and its great to see a gay bar that isnt full of sleaze but instead a relaxed and cool atmosphere! thats my 2 cents for the day, can i have em back now tho. recession and all that!

[SunFlower]

i have to say (and i'm only repeating what i heard), Riddlers got a very poor review from a Corkonian who was up on this past Saturday. he described it as dead quiet, with only old people as clients, it closed at one, and they turned off the lights on them.

this is RADICALLY different to the night I was up ("Gayhem"). I had a blast, the place was full, great atmosphere, shows, etc. I dont know if it has something to do with Dolan's being on, or the shows that were happening? But I really enjoyed myself.

What are good nights for Riddlers? what nights is it strong? and what nights might people go out (but not to Riddlers) and where do they go?

[StarBoi]

Riddlers is good on a saturday night with its different themes, this week all the bar men were dressed up as very sexy builders and Heidi Hotlips done a performance in the back bar. Sundays are also good in there and weekdays are quiet with the usual crowd in and the older locals. However, every Monday Riddlers hosts a game night and on tuesday nights there are movies played.

Apart from riddlers and dolans, angel lane is a great club but is over 21s. its on thurday-saturday and is expensive to get into but well worth it, amazing smoking area! Smyths is great on a friday with some really good bands :)

[fada]

I would have to agree with Merack, There has been little support in the establishment for Riddlers.... Club Wilde is held at an out of town hetero venue...... Pride held a table quiz last week... at another hetero venue... why? shouldn't these ventures be supporting our own???? Is it not right????

I can't comment on this weeks entertainment as I was out of the country, but I have great craic every sat night, Also, alot of people did go to Waterford..... but we won't mention that.
Just in from Riddlers actually, had a great night, Movies and singstar, and everyone got involved. Riddlers is a COMMUNITY bar... everyone does what they want, and Mike is always open to suggestions, and will try anything once

[Limerick Pride]

Another little area that needs some work is the older generation and the younger generation working closer to organize things such as Limerick Pride, or other social events! This requires nothings more than people who are willing to say what ideas they might have, and be willing to chase them up! These forums will be a magnificent medium in which to express such thoughts. :)


There is a varied age group on this years Pride committee from early 20's up to.... ahem:D
So hopefully we are getting a fair representation from across the community.

[StarBoi]

hahahahaha i love it, mike the trisexual!

i agree with you breannoh, a lot of people in limerick are all for the community but it can be seen in the past few weeks that there all talk and not enough walk.
Fair enough, as i said in an earlier post, Riddlers used to have a bad name. But now its under new management, has run many successfull nights, is in the middle of renovating upstairs and has friendly staff, lots of craic and always something on whether its a movie, the ps3 or just friendly chat!

Club Wilde is in a bad place and they have never once tried to do it in Riddlers from what i heard, fair enough to the table quiz last week heard it was a great success and it was great to introduce the LGBT community into a straight bar but why not do it in Riddlers once in a while, MyLGBT Youth Group had a quiz there two months ago and it was a great success.
There was an article in the first issue of Alphabet Soup about Riddlers and saying "sure we will see how it goes", but how do people expect to see where it goes if they dont even support the place themselves.

[fada]

Amen to that Starboi!
I mean, the whole point of this thread is to point out that we're not supporting our own. I think it's a disgrace that RSS are holding their fundraiser in a straight bar (with no late lience) out of town, and then giving out that no-one goes. Why can't they support Riddlers?? The GAY venue in town, and the only one at that.

Well done to the Pride Committee on the table quiz, it was a great night, but we all came from Riddlers, and went back to Riddlers after..... That quiz should really have been held in our own venue.....
My 2 cents.... and you can keep the change!

[StarBoi]

ill be taking that change there breannoh hope you dont mind :D

i do think that the idea of having the table quiz in a straight venue is good i mean its great to see the LGBT community mingling with the heteros lol but a the same time it does seem that Riddlers has been ignored for a lot of events and i think that RSS needs to see that many people are asking for the events in Riddlers and get up and act about it and as the thread says, "Support there own"

[fada]

You may keep it Starboi!
So the general consensus here seems to be that the "establishment" needs to support our own instead of others.....
I agree, I decree,

THE END!

[StarBoi]

I agree, I decree,

THE END!

sorry breanoh i just wanted to steal the final word there :D so the end :D:D:D

[fada]

Starboi... Sweetie.... honey.... I have the last word! Don't you ever DARE try to take it from me! BITCH! (feckin confusions trying to get in the last word)
THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mixie2me]

now e are just talkin crap....




n anyway


yoink, last word, the end

FIN

[fada]

What the FUCK does Fin mean????
And Mixie... I'll get ya! and it WON'T be kinky!

[StarBoi]

thats it mixie you run away from him

THE END!!!!

woot i win :D
*victory dance*

[fada]

I can keep going all night!

THE END.
DEIREADH AN SCÉAL
FINITO
ENDUNG

[StarBoi]

*puts some nightall into breannohs cocktail*

now we play the waiting game
<.<

>.>

^_^

[fada]

*Throws coctail @ Starboi, smokes, and waits"

[mixie2me]

i have a bit of a thirst on me lets start doin shots, there's loads of vodka left

[fada]

Oh! I'm sooooo in!

[abydos6]

*clears throat*

Bren, my apologies...

Lads, RSS held their event outside of town because at the time of booking the three month stint (that ended up being two months) Riddlers was not gay freindly and not under Gay management...as it is now...we don't have anything else planned at the moment to run, and I'm sure that riddlers will get a nose in.

Jerry's had gay staff and the owner was only too pleased to give us the back room for free. I have heard, now this is hearsay and I'll be glad to listen to what ye have to say, but Riddlers has asked some charity events for rental of the upstairs (before it went to refurbishment), the smoking area is closed most evenings and people therefore have to go out front and smoke which is not good if you aren't quite out, and leads to clientel possibly being given homophobic abuse. As for holding stuff in straight bars, it does quite honestly depend on the best deal possible, as most RSS events and Pride events are not that well funded, which is why we hold fundraisers *grins*.

My darlings, community does not just cover us gay folk, there are our family, our friends;), our siblings and our supporters. Sometimes its just nice to include us all in the rainbow mixture.

No I don't frequent Riddlers, but then i don't frequent anywhere at this time.

my apologies Bren, shows one should think before typing.

but I stand by what I said, if you don't show support you won't get it. So far, so good.

Aby

[Merack]

Many valid points have been made :)

I think that the over all feeling is that we need to work with what we now have, which is Riddlers, RSS @ Leamey House and Dolans!

Gay events should really be held in 'gay establishments! Whatever about Jerry O'Deas giving the back room for free, i'm certain Mike from Riddlers would gladly offer the back bar for free until such a time as upstairs has finished renovations! Will he even charge for that if it's in support of the gay community? Probably not!

Sure we have a nice bit of summer left, and i know there will be a few different nights on around the city so lets see how it goes!

Aby, i cordially invite you to frequent Riddlers with us, in particular on a Saturday night, your schedule permitting :)
Lets see if you can't see what all the hype is about :D

[StarBoi]

i havent heard of riddlers charging for any events and i think its time that RSS does apply to riddlers for some gigs it would be great to see two big community things join up this summer, i mean i attended the MyLGBT table quiz and it was very good, and im all for the integration of gay and hetero events as many people know and i think its cool that a gay night is held in a straight bar, it really shows the place is gay friendly and supportive of the community!

but in saying that and allt his support our own mumble jumbo, i dont really see people rushing to riddlers and its a sad thing to see cause riddlers is personally my favorite thing about limerick and its time that people see past the old riddlers and see the new gay bar of limerick!

[fada]

Aby,
Welcome! It's so great to see you here.
I Would Echo what the lads have said, I couldn't see Mike charging RSS or any other charity group for use of the bar.

Personally, as you know yourself, I am a firm supporter of the work RSS do, I loved the coffee dock, and went there as often as I could, We had some fab nights there, chatting and getting to know people, and an evening would pass in the blink of an eye with the fab company and conversation, something which I really miss. Riddlers is becoming similar of late, with a good crowd gathering most evenings after work for coffee, water, 7up and lucozade, some opting for the alcoholic option.

I love to see the Community working together, it's when we really shine, just look at pride! If we could replicate that on a more frequent basis, it would be great.

As a gay man in Limerick, I want nothing more than to see the community flourish, to see RSS flourish, to see Riddlers flourish, Working together could be beneficial to all.

I think todays activities in Dublin showed us that there is alot left to achieve for our community, we shouldn't need young people chaining themselves to the gates of Dáil Éireann looking for rights.... By working together, this can be achieved.

Lets work together people, we've said our pieces on the matter, lets put it behind.

I started this thread as a point that RSS, Riddlers ETC aren't being properly supported. I didn't intend there to be a catfight.

hate, bitching and curses,
B

[abydos6]

Darling,

no curses, I swear...er promise.

Agreed, all events should be supported, and everyone appreciates when they are. When we next plan to try and host something (finances willing) we'll be looking at Riddlers as well.

Working together is all we've ever wanted, supporting our community after all, that is what RSS is about. Maybe if Club Wilde is ever resseracted we can look at ye guys again.

Though, I will say, and I'm doing this in kindness lads, ye need to look at the reasons why people don't go to ye and see what can be done. Giving out won't solve the issue. We'll try to make it down on sunday, no promises, but please, please, as editor of Alphabet Soup Limerick which I know has a small readership that I'm trying to build up, would you pass on events and even a story or two about your events to us, so that we can publicise ye to the community.

I wrote about waiting to see, in order that people give ye a chance before coming to a conclusion either way. We need to know what's going on.

Best of luck mixie, bren, and all involved, lets see more positive, supportive posting about supporting our own, and less of the negative, and that does include myself.

((hugs)):)

[Evil Steve]

I think its great we can have gay events in "straight" bars
Last years pride was hosted by nearly ALL straight venues.

Its shows that there is a lot of tolerance and acceptance when straight venues are more than happy to welcome us.

I think that lots of the gay community drink in straight bars anyways, its not an anti riddlers thing at all, it is a symptom that we've had our gay bars close on us (globe, bar3 and one other i cant remember the name of)

I drink in straight bars more than i do gay bars, i can kiss a guy in my local straight bar and no one bats an eyelid ... even tho i think they did hide the copies of GCN they had on the window sill.

while i agree on the supporting your own theory, you also have to support the places that made you welcome when there was no gay bars in limerick or the place that made you welcome when you wanted a quiet pint with your boyfriend and didnt say anything when ye started kissing.
There may be a day we need their fine establishments again.

[fada]

That is true Steve, Limerick is actually (as I said in my op) a pretty gay friendly city, so I see that we are welcome in so many establishments, and that is a big thing!

I just believe we need to support our own, As I said before, it's my opinion ;)

[mixie2me]

ok im only going to post once on this thread....i think this thread makes some very valid points but it also states some points that have annoyed me and states some "facts" that arnt true and that need to be put "straight", im not going to go spouting here for fear that i start a row, but if anyone wants to ask me any questions please pm me....


Cheers,
Mike
x