In recent weeks, the upsetting announcement emerged that Galway’s Teach Solais may be forced to close its doors later this year. The centre, which is run by AMACH! LGBT Galway, has been an invaluable lifeline for the queer community in the West and to say its closure would be a loss is a massive understatement.
While giant strides have been made recently in terms of LGBT+ rights and quality of life, rural isolation is still a massive issue. As Cameron Keighron of AMACH! explains, “It’s the only visible space for LGBT+ people in the West of Ireland. We have people that will travel three or four hours just to come to a two hour talking session because we are the only people they can talk to, we are the only people that they’ve ever told that they’re LGBT+. People in their 60s and 70s coming in, having a cup of tea, who have never interacted with other LGBT+ people before because they were so afraid.”