Dublin LGBTQ Pride 

Press Release 

26th of November 2020 

Subject: Launch of ‘The Quilt: Echoes & Memories’ on World AIDS Day, December 1st 2020. A public exhibition in Dublin City designed to work at all levels of the framework for living with COVID - 19 

Statement 

Dublin LGBTQ Pride and Queer Culture Ireland have collaborated to create a public exhibition to mark the 30th anniversary of The Irish Names Quilt (AIDS Memorial Quilt). Housed in the former Filmbase building on Curved  Street in Templebar, the full exhibition is viewed from the street, allowing it to continue to exist at all levels of the national framework for living with COVID – 19. 

The Quilt: Echoes & Memories offers us an opportunity to acknowledge, remember and learn from the efforts of many unsung heroes of recent Irish history. It pays tribute to the Irish LGBTQ+ community and other marginalised groups who demonstrated remarkable leadership and resilience during the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s and 1990s.  The Irish Names Quilt supported families and friends, ensuring that their loved ones’ lives and legacies continued through the stories of the Quilts. This year, Mary Shannon, one of the founders of the Irish Names Project and custodian of the Quilt passed away. In putting on this exhibition, we are ensuring that the legacies of both the names on the Quilts and those who put them there are remembered. 

The exhibition ‘The Quilt: Echoes & Memories’ will be officially launched on December 1st, World AIDS Day, by The  Lord Mayor of Dublin, Hazel Chu and will run for the full month. Speaking of the exhibition, the Lord Mayor said:  “When The Irish Names Quilt first went on tour in 1991, its first stop was The Mansion House and over 13,000  people came to view it, as a City, we have always come together in times of need, that’s the legacy of The Quilt and  the idea that a whole new generation of Dubliners get to be part of that legacy, this year especially, is a wonderful  thing.” 

This exhibition is part of the Winter Pride season of events produced by Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride. End 

Media enquiries 

General enquiries Dublin Pride/Winter Pride: info@dublinpride.ie 

Exhibition/Queer Culture Ireland: queercultureireland@gmail.com 

Dublin Pride 2021: jed.dowling@dublinpride.ie 

Notes  

Winter Pride  

Launched in 2019 by Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride as an extension to their popular Dublin Pride Festival, Winter Pride is a  series of primarily community-based events designed to promote the resources and services available to the LGBTQ+  community at a time of year when support is often needed most. You can view our photo archive from 2019 here:  https://arthurcarron.photoshelter.com/gallery/Winter-Pride/G0000RZxKOcLHHGE/

Additional notes on the exhibition from Queer Culture Ireland 

The Quilt: Echoes and Memories 

On 11 July 1990, the first panel of what was to become the Irish Names Quilt was unveiled at the Dublin AIDS Action  Alliance offices in Parnell Street. The panel was dedicated to Joe Carthy who had died on 17 January 1990 from an  AIDS-related illness. Today the Irish Names Quilt consists of 11 quilts representing the lives of those affected by the  AIDS epidemic. The Irish Names Quilt toured Ireland in 1991 and helped highlight the devastating impact of HIV and  AIDS. It broke the silence and ignorance surrounding AIDS and also raised vital funds to support the work of HIV and  AIDS charities. 

30 years later, as we live through another international health crisis, The Quilt: Echoes and Memories offers an opportunity to acknowledge, remember and learn from the efforts of many unsung heroes of recent Irish history. It underlines the leadership and activism of Gay Health Action, and the courage and resilience of specific people who spoke out in defence of those living with HIV and AIDS. Because of their efforts, and many others after them, today people living with HIV on effective medication live long and happy lives and with an undetectable viral load do not transmit HIV to their sexual partners. However, there is still more work to be done; ensuring access to medicines,  proper funding of sexual health facilities, education, and removal of the stigma which still, unfortunately, exists in some sections of society. This exhibition reminds us of the importance of hope, community and solidarity when faced with adversity. 

∙ As we live through another pandemic, albeit one very different to the AIDS pandemic, we want to pay tribute to the Irish queer community and other marginalised groups who demonstrated remarkable leadership and resilience during the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s and 1990s. When the State failed to take seriously the threat of HIV and AIDS, it was Ireland’s queer community who stepped up and carried out the work that the Irish State should have been doing, but, unfortunately, was too slow to do.  

∙ Begin to shed light on a period of recent Irish history which was transformative in its impact on Irish society. This period brought home to Irish society the lamentable state of our STD facilities, our attitude to sex education, and sexuality more generally, the detrimental impact of legal restrictions on contraception, the relationship between church and State, and the relationship between the State and marginalised groups. 

∙ To broaden our understanding of Irish Queer History, to move beyond the overwhelming focus on criminality of sexual activity between males and to reveal other aspects of Ireland’s rich Queer History. In this case, how a community came together to confront one of the biggest challenges it had yet encountered, in the face of many obstacles. Their contribution to Irish society, particularly the many lives they helped to save, needs to be acknowledged. Their humane attitude helped many in Irish society. 

∙ To remember the many lives lost to the AIDS pandemic in Irish society, many of whom suffered due to ignorance, lack of adequate support and facilities, and a State failing to support them when they needed it the most. Those who helped start the Irish Names Quilt stepped in to help those most affected by HIV and  AIDS, easing their pain and suffering when there were few other outlets available. At a time when there was considerable shame and stigma attached to HIV and AIDS, the Irish Names Quilt supported families and friends, ensuring that their loved ones' lives and legacies continued through the stories of the Quilts. The  Irish Names Quilt is a powerful reminder of what can happen when those in a position of authority fail to act in the best interests of all their citizens. 

∙ This exhibition is a reminder of the consequences of inaction.