Exhibition by Rena Blake to mark the 10 Year Anniversary of the Marriage Referendum
Exhibition Runs from 13th – 30th June 2025
This year 2025, marks the 10-year anniversary of Ireland’s historic Marriage Equality Referendum. Ireland was the first country in the world to vote for gay marriage.
We were actively involved in the Yes Equality Campaign. Lisa and I were the first gay couple to get married in Kerry. We made a film about the whole process at the time called The Day We Counted. Now, ten years on, I want to mark this important occasion in LGBTQI history by showcasing a new body of work called ‘The Rings of Kerry’.
This exhibition is a celebration of this milestone and features ten new portraits of LGBTQI couples from Kerry who have gotten married in the last ten years. It also includes film, artworks and archival footage from that time.
All my life, consciously and subconsciously, I have drifted in and out of many different communities. As a young adult, I emigrated to New York and joined the Irish Bronx community. When I later came out, I became active in the ILGO, (Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization) and ran a lesbian café in Brooklyn. When I returned to Ireland, I was involved with LINC (Lesbians in Cork) and managed Loafers gay bar for a few years in Cork.
I have always played an active part in whichever community I find myself. Maybe I’m just the community-spirited type. This mindset has probably inspired this project. I wanted to document a community that is very dear to my heart and show how the referendum has impacted on their lives, particularly here in Kerry”.
Rena would like to gratefully acknowledge the support that has made this exhibition possible:
- Participants: Albha and Kate Quigley; Breeda Lyne and Fran Neeson; Daniel Quirke and Michael Soundu; Don O Neill and Pascale Guillermie; Honor Hurley and Aine Hurley; Kerry Fleming and James Brennan; Lainey Keane and Helena Rohan; Martin Greenwood and James Bergin: Rena Blake and Lisa Fingleton; Tom Ahern and Joe Burkett.
- Art: Muiriosa Murphy / Marie Brennan
- Film: Lisa Fingleton / Julie Field
- Framing and Printing: Quality Framing Company
- Installation: Liam Naughton
- Marketing: Michelle Murphy
- Opening Night: Maria Walsh / Sailhymn
- Photography Assistance: Lisa Fingleton, Dominic Walsh, Grainne Toomey, Paul Shanahan
This exhibition is supported by Siamsa Tire and the Kerry County Council Creative Work Bursary 2025
