Get to know Ciara Moloughney, the person behind the brilliant and much-needed new Queer Club Night in Galway City: TABÚ...
What inspired the creation of TABÚ, and what does it aim to achieve for Galway's LGBTQIA+ community?
TABÚ was born from a lack of dedicated Queer events in Galway. It's also a response to the exclusionary nature of many "Queer" spaces or Gay bars worldwide, which often cater to only a small segment of the LGBTQIA+ community. TABÚ aims to be different.
Our goal is to create a welcoming space for everyone, especially those who often feel marginalised within the broader LGBTQIA+ community. This includes FLINTA (Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Non-Binary, Trans, and Asexual) individuals, people of colour, asylum seekers, Travellers, Roma, neurodivergent individuals, and those with accessibility needs.
Another key aim of TABÚ is to showcase a diverse lineup of artists and a wide range of musical genres. The typical chart-toppers and pop music heard in many gay bars can be limiting. We want to offer something for everyone, platforming local Queer artists and bringing in top DJs and acts from around the world.
During my time DJing, I've been playing around with different genres that I love which, I think, create a great template for Queer club music that goes beyond the standard disco, house, and pop. I prefer a blend of Jersey Club and Ballroom for a distinctly Queer feel, infused with Brazilian Baile Funk and Dancehall to encourage everyone to ‘shake their ass and serve some sass’, ultimately, it’s about the ‘girls, gays and theys’ feeling sexy, and free to express themselves on the dancefloor. Obviously, you can’t forget the bass! Soundsystem culture has been a huge part of my life so I will always throw down some Jungle, breakbeat, garage, etc. Heavy bass lines but also ‘campy bangers’, think remixes of old classic ‘pop’ songs like remixes of Vengaboys and Destiny’s Child. I think this caters for the tastes of a wide range of people.
Photo of TABÚ Club Night by Cleo McKeon Burke
How is TABÚ working to ensure that its pilot club nights create a genuinely safe and welcoming space for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity?
Creating safe and welcoming club spaces is something I'm deeply passionate about. The current culture in many venues is unacceptable, where harassment is often normalised. I'm determined to change that with TABÚ.
Some of the steps taken so far to try make it as safe a place as possible are:
Clear Code of Conduct: A prominently displayed Code of Conduct emphasising respect and consent will set clear expectations for how we treat each other.
Trained Welfare Stewards: Trained Welfare Stewards will be present throughout the night as the first point of contact for anyone feeling uncomfortable or needing assistance. They'll work closely with security to enforce a zero-tolerance policy on harassment and abuse.
Collaboration with Venues: We actively collaborate with venues to implement safety measures and foster inclusivity.
Ultimately, I hope that all clubs and bars in Galway and beyond will take significant steps to improve safety and inclusivity. This includes staff-wide training, clear and enforced Codes of Conduct, and designated welfare staff.
These are just the start of the Welfare, Safety, and Inclusivity Policy for TABÚ, which I will continuously grow and improve through different training and research. As part of this, I recently took part in a Queer Space Cohort program supported by Galway City Council Night-Time Economy Advisor, Kate Howard. Kate has been supporting me through the establishment of TBAÚ, which has been great.
Photo of TABÚ Club Night by Cleo McKeon Burke
In your view, how does the TABÚ Club Night contribute to making Galway's night-time economy more vibrant and inclusive for all?
Galway has a reputation for being an alternative, vibrant, and culturally rich city. You'd expect it to have a thriving queer nightlife, but unfortunately, that's not quite the reality. That is why the creation of TABÚ was so important. But also, by initiating and fostering diverse nighttime events, we believe TABÚ contributes positively to the city as a whole. Galway is already a welcoming and inclusive place; we just need our nightlife to reflect that better.
The inclusive space TABÚ creates for the LGBTQIA+ community is extremely needed and important, especially for younger people and those new to Galway, like students. I think, having a place to connect with their community can make a huge difference in their lives.
Furthermore, TABÚ broadens the appeal of Galway's nightlife. By showcasing a diverse range of music and performances, we attract a wider audience and contribute to a more dynamic and exciting night-time economy.
The closure of Cuba was a huge loss to Galway’s nightlife. It was a great temporary home for TABÚ as they were great to work with around all my welfare and safety requests, and it will be in The Loft for the next event, which is a great space, but the ultimate goal is to find a suitable venue that is wheelchair accessible!
The recent closure of Cuba nightclub is a significant loss to Galway's nightlife. It previously served as a temporary home for TABÚ, and we commend their commitment to inclusivity by accommodating our welfare and safety requests. However, the search continues for a permanent, fully accessible venue that welcomes everyone. In the meantime, TABÚ's next Club Night will be held at The Loft which offers a great space.
For more information and upcoming TABÚ Club Nights follow @tabu.queerclubnight.galway on Instagram.
The next Club Night will be Friday 8th Nov in The Loft from 11pm with headlining act Puzzy Wrangler.
Ciara Moloughney of TABÚ Queer Club Night
Ciara Moloughney has spent the last decade working in production and producing in the events industry, namely music and arts festivals across Ireland and the UK.
TABÚ Club Night is proudly supported by Galway City Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. This support helps build on Galway's thriving night-time economy by ensuring everyone feels welcome to participate.
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