Fabulous Beasts: Analysing the Key Influences of Irish Drag Culture

<p dir="ltr">This dissertation will examine and compare key moments of drag culture in Ireland, from its roots in British theatre culture to its contemporary American influences. Throughout this examination, comparisons and contrasts will be made to the climate of drag in Britain and America. Ireland’s immigration links with these countries have allowed significant influence to be drawn from their communities. The aesthetics and material of modern Irish drag performance are a culmination of Britain’s female impersonators and the events following America’s Stonewall. Included in these studies will be sections dedicated to Irish queer culture, a community from which Irish drag extends. This thesis is image-led, featuring illustrations provided to me by Tonie Walsh and The Irish Queer Archive. This research will seek to provide an analysis of drag’s stereotypes and influences. It will study Ireland’s journey from a conservative Catholic nation to the overwhelmingly progressive society it champions today. In doing so, this thesis will analyse the drag image in terms of its aesthetics and subversion of the gender binary, with similarities drawn from the American drag scene. It will inspect the history of Ireland’s association with the Catholic Church in contrast to the tolerance of theatre culture in Britain and the career of Danny La Rue, a celebrated entertainer and pioneering figure in Irish drag. It will explore drag’s capacity to destabilise societal, cultural and political standards and its historical use in political activism. Highlighting the work of Panti Bliss, it will trace Ireland’s queer cultural revolution that led to a nationwide acceptance and love of drag.</p>