Photos by Jenny Callanan Photography
Highlanes Gallery welcomed a full house on Friday 19th June as its AMPLIFY Young Persons’ Panel presented a special screening event ahead of Pride celebrations.
The event, titled Not Another Queer Cinema Club, featured a screening of the cult classic But I’m a Cheerleader (1999) and was curated by artist Venus Patel.
Visitors travelled from Drogheda, Bettystown, Trim and Dublin for the evening, which brought together film lovers and members of the LGBTQ+ community for a night of cinema, discussion and connection.
The event was organised by Highlanes Gallery’s AMPLIFY panel, a group of young people aged between 18 and 30 who help shape and programme events at the gallery. Hosts Kat Lawlor and Eden Munroe introduced the screening and led a post-film discussion, alongside fellow panel members David Connolly, Moya Gibney, Caoimhe Murphy and Diarmuid Woodcock.
Celebrating creativity and conversation
The screening took place as part of the gallery’s current exhibition To Land: Living Roots Awaken, which features work by Stephen Doyle and John Rainey.
Artist Venus Patel, whose work spans performance, film and sculpture, was invited to curate the event. Their work explores themes of identity, belonging and hidden histories through imaginative and unconventional storytelling.
The evening formed part of Drogheda by Night 2026 and was supported by the Drogheda Night Time Economy Initiative and the Drogheda Purple Flag Group.
Following the success of the event, visitors can expect to see more programming from the AMPLIFY Young Persons’ Panel in the months ahead.
