by Paula Dennan -

A complicated relationship with alcohol

A complicated relationship with alcohol
Photo credit: kaboompics.com

Them: Do you want a drink?

Me: I’ll have a soda water and lime, please.

Them: Are you sure you don’t want some vodka in that?

Me: No thanks, I’m not drinking.

Them: Have you been landed with the driving?

Me: Nope.

Them: Oh right, you’re on antibiotics is it?

Me: No, I’m just not drinking.

Them: *looking shocked* You’re not pregnant, are you?!

Me: No, I’m just not drinking

Them: Are you sure you won’t have that vodka, then?

Me: No, thanks.

Them: Ah right! Eh… I haven’t put my foot in it, have I? You’re not an alcoholic or anything?

Me: You kind of have, but no I’m not. I’m just not drinking. Look I’ll get my own soda water and lime, thanks.

Them: *looking confused* Um, yeah, whatever you think is best.

by Paula Dennan -

The life-changing act of Repealing the Eighth

A collage of photos of Kerry for Choice, Kerry Together for Yes and Corca Dhuibhne out canvassing during the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment to the Irish Constitution in 2018.

I recently updated the Kerry for Choice website to include details on how to access abortion services and found myself close to tears, again. I keep thinking it has finally sunk in, then something happens and I realise that it will probably never feel real. But real it is. For all the faults with the legislation and there are many, people who need an abortion in Ireland can now phone a helpline run by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and be given details of their nearest abortion provider.

by Paula Dennan -

#8thRef – the importance of conversations

#8thRef - the importance of conversations

We talk a lot about having conversations with regards to the upcoming referendum to remove the Eighth Amendment from the Constitution. We talk a lot about having conversations because we understand how important those conversations are. Speaking to people, be they family, friends or colleagues, listening to their concerns and discussing the wide-ranging impact the Eighth Amendment has on the lives of pregnant people in Ireland is crucial in the run up to May 25th. A few years ago, conversations like these changed my thinking and helped me fully understand the implications of the Eighth Amendment and why we must repeal it.

by Paula Dennan -

Notes on being pro-choice

Notes on being pro-choice

I haven’t always been pro-choice. For years I didn’t really consider the issue of abortion at all, but if asked I would say I was more pro-life than pro-choice. Yet, I struggled to explain what I meant when pressed further. I could understand where both sides were coming from, which in many ways can be a good thing. When it comes to the issue of abortion though, it can leave you feeling adrift.

by Paula Dennan -

Being bi+ in rural Ireland

I wrote this piece about being bi+ and living in rural Ireland for the Cork Pride guide. I submitted it before the Orlando shooting where 49 people were killed and 53 others injured. The aftermath of this homophobic act of terrorism makes safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people all the more important. On a personal level, I missed not having an LGBTQ+ bar/space close by so I could visit in the days following the massacre. 

Being-bi-in-rural-Ireland

by Paula Dennan -

#RepealThe8th – what you can do to help

I’ve written about abortion before, some of those blog posts were me trying to work out where I stood on the issue. To an extent I could understand where both sides were coming from, but the more I learned about the consequences of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution the more actively pro-choice I became. I’m a card carrying member of the Abortion Rights Campaign and founding member and chair of Kerry for Choice.

If you care about repealing the Eighth Amendment here are some ways you can get more involved with the campaign. There is still work to do before we see a referendum, but that work has already started. Be part of it.

#RepealThe8th - what you can do to help
Mural by Maser on the Project Arts Centre in Temple Bar, Dublin

by Paula Dennan -

The Orlando shooting and listening to LGBTQ+ people

The-Orlando-shooting-and-listening-to-LGBTQ-people

I’ve been trying to find the right words since I heard about the shooting in Pulse, a gay bar in Orlando, but all I have are tears, anger and the ability to retweet people who are far more articulate than me.

That this happened in a gay bar, a safe haven for so many LGBTQ+ people is heartbreaking beyond belief. That it happened on Latin night means LGBTQ+ people of colour were affected even more, you only have to look at the names of those murdered to realise this.