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"Pickers of stone. Gatherers of hardness, of remains, of harshness, of solid realities. Five men thrown together on a labouring site, bound by rituals of masculinity, and each seeking a way out the trap in which he finds himself. Each confronting the reality of his enslaved condition and all ultimately discovering a certain sameness in their lot. These are the bones which Peter Gowen's play strips bare. It shaves through the thin lint which divides helpless violence and abject submission, scraping away the flesh of steadfast ritual and hierarchical control, and finding strangely weak and quivering creatures behind them. Ostensibly the play concerns the interactions of these five workers and their supervisor, exploring their diversities and their similarities and finally drawing them together as a force to defeat the oppressive injustice of their boss. It succeeds quite brilliantly in portraying the modes of control and the levels of communication that exist among the group, where rules of behaviour are ironly imposed and where alliances are forged and broken in rapid alternation. The play roughly follows the structures of linear developmental theatre, where introductions are made, problems are raised, a crisis is reached and finally a resolution of sorts is achieved. The problem with The Stone-pickers lies in the final stages of this method, where the action and development is altogether too rushed and where nothing is achieved with any degree of conviction - one major crisis follows rapidly on the heels of another, where each is successively left unresolved and pushed into the background in the wake of the next crisis. It is the age old problem with this form of theatre - ""wrap everything up before the pubs close"". However, as a study of the internal politics of a group of men thrown together for a long period of time, the play excels quite brilliantly. Each character has is own personal trauma, which together add up to a perfectly observed series of comments on issues as diverse as land and property rights to marital jeopardy. Peter Gown is an exceptionally talented young writer, but one can't help thinking how wonderful the play would have ben if these themes had been transposed to a more experimental level of presentation. The ritual in the play begs closer examination, especially that of pecking order and of acceptance, using the act of tea-making as visible expression of both. The Actor's Company has been in existence for just over a year now, and has already made an indelible impression on Irish theatre. Future productions from this vibrant company will be eagerly anticipated given the degree and power on display in this strong, though flawed, performance. Peter Hussey"

"Devised and performed by Susie Kennedy, Mary Ryan and Ciaran Bourke, with John Dunne as Musical Director and choreography by Pat Conway. Bad Bob's Backstage Bar, East Essex Street, Dublin 2. 8pm Sept. 27th - Oct. 22nd. After their raunchy success at last year's theatre festival with Wild Women Don't Have the Blues, Susie Kennedy, Mary Ryan, John Dunne and the band are back and have teamed up with blues singer Ciaran Bourke in Wild Women Meet The Hoochie Coochie Man. The show claimed to be a ""hot bed of steamy jazz, blues and boogie woogie"" and it certainly lived up to that. Despite the fact that the stage was very small, it still managed to facilitate the two wild women and the Hoochie Coochie Man himself, John Dunne, and the rest of the band. The actual set was quite basic with three bar stools and a large American flag on the ceiling directly above. The set was lit mostly from behind with colours varying from pink, to orange, to blue and back again to pink - blending quite well with the type of music. John Dunne opened the show with a catchy little number, and while the audience tapped their feet and 'doo bee doo bee dooed' to the music, onto the staage skipped the cast dressed in vivid and vulgar evening wear. All three commenced singing the blues. Mary Ryan then took centre stage while the other two sat along the sides on the bar stools, and sang ""A Good Man is hard to find"" - this was followed by Susie's description of what a 'good man' is (which had the audience doubled up in knots) and then the Hoochie Coochie Man donned his electric guitar and introduced himself with lines like ""I'm a real man"", ""everybody knows me"" and ""the whole damn world knows I'm here"". The second half of the show is badly paced and a little drawn out. Mary doesn't seem very convincing - I found her facial expressions false. She seemed quite ill at ease and not as relaxed as Susie who was superb. The show was meant to be humorous but I got the impression that Mary didn't think it was. If Mary was acting the part, then Susie was the part. She seemed to enjoy every single minute of her performance, I did, however, like Mary's ""Apres moi"" and her stage movements were very apt at this point - she was tackiness itself. The choreography was excellent and Ciaran Bourke played the sleazy playboy to perfection. I loved the choice of footwear; pink slingbacks, brown suede shoes and black courts really drew attention to the well rehearsed foot movements. All in all, a most enjoyable evening, definitely worth a visit, even if you're not into jazz/blues music - it got me tapping my feet and it had me in stitches all the way through. Samantha Featherbottom"

COMING OF AGE IN SPAIN Spain in the 1980's is the Spain of the post Franco period, where the constraints of the long years of fascist rule have been thrown off and where the exurberance of a newly-found freedom is especially evident in the arts. In 1987, Madrid hosted the premier of Federico Garcia Lorca's only openly homosexual play, The Public, which opened last week at the Theatre Royal in London. The self-exiled novelist, Augustin Gomez Arcos, author of the powerful allegory on Franco's Spain, The Carnivorous Lamb, is only now receiving deserved recognition for his haunting masterpiece. And in cinema, Pedro Almodovar's Law of Desire seems determined to top other gay movies in its sexual explicitness. It is one of the handful of gay movies on show in the forthcoming Third Dublin Film Festival, and basically concerns the all-consuming, D.H. Lawrence-style possession of a lover's body, soul and mind. Pablo (Esebio Poncela), is a prolific young writer/director whose lover Juan has left him and who is seduced by Antonio into a demanding and threatening relationship. Pablo's sister Tina had a disastrous affair with her father when she was a boy and subsequently had a sex-change operation. Since then, no man has been good enough for her, so she embarks on a comparatively fruitful relationship with a female model (played by famous Madrid transvestite Bibi Anderson). The film is a frenetic and irreverent social satire, whose characters consume sex and drugs like "wide-eyed children finally allowed to pillage a forbidden sweet shop" and who exude, and laguish in, the melodrama of those possessed rather than distressed by life. It is an original and stylish analysis of the politics of desire, a desire which, according to Almodovar, "is the need for someone to work his or her way down to your bones, that all the possible delights of your body be their favourite dish, that the mere fact of holding you in their arms makes you forget all those metaphysical, social, political and economic problems ... which threaten today's world. But desire is not only that. In absolute terms, one wishes to possess the very soul of another." Stephen Kirby, writing for Australia's Out Rage, sums up the prevailing attitude of the world-wide gay community regarding the Law of Desire when he says, "The joyous sleaze and giddy romanticism of their lives reminds us of the way things used to be before the sexual and economic "Big Chills" hit the West. If you see this movie for no other reason, see it to remember the way we used to be." Peter Hussey

Included in this feast of celluloid are a number of films which are of special interest to gay viewers. Michael Thornhill's The Everlasting Secret Family is one of these, beginning at 2.40pm on October 28th in the Screen 1. It looks, with surreal originality, at the shrouded homosexual society in contemporary Australia, centering around the relationship between a gay senator (Arthur Dignam) and his young lover (Mark Lee). Dignam and Lee give fine performances and John Mellion is quite brilliant as the elderly judge whose tastes run towards bondage and masochism. The Fruit Machine is set in Liverpool and follows the story of two seventeen year old boys; Eddie (innocent and on the run from home) and Michael (streetwise and a hustler who lives by his wits). Both desire, for different reasons, to escape their lives. The land of milk and honey is portrayed by Brighton on the South Coast of England. The escape is further forced on them, when they witness the gangland murder of Annabelle (ROBBIE COLTRANE), the transvestite hostess of the Fruit Machine Club. Fearing for their own lives, at the hands of hired killer (BRUCE PAYNE), they are thrown into the arms of gay opera singer (ROBERT STEPHENS) and his manipulative business manager (CLARE HIGGINS). Both of these characters shamelessly exploit and use Michael but he in turn, understands the approach seeing them only as a meal ticket. Eddie, the dreamer, oblivious to the corruption around him, sees only the beauty and quality of life. He is totally unprepared for the arrival of the ominous killer. Echo. It will be on view on Monday, October 31st at 6.10pm at the Screen 2. This year's festival sees six major films from the period 1959 to 1968 grouped together in a special season Out of the Past, which have been out of distribution for decades or which had their release held back for more than twenty years. One of these is The Manchurian Candidate with Angela Lansbury in the role of the powerful and oppressive matriarch. Federico Fellini's autobiographical masterpiece La Dolce Vita can be seen in the Screen 1 at 2.20pm on November 1st. It provides a sensational view of the decadent 'sweet life' of Rome's society, where a journalist (Marcello Mastroianni) finds himself incapable of fleeing from the glitter of the Via Veneto and the allure of the uninhibited orgies he so deplores. At 4.20pm on October 30th Caleb Deschanel's beautiful and gentle version of Robinson Crusoe has its Irish premiere in the Screen 1. Crusoe centres around the gradual transformation of Robinson from slave trader to guardian of human dignity, with Aidan Quinn in the leading role. The House of Bernada Alba by Federico Garcia Lorca is translated to the screen in Mario Camus' film of the play. It works quite brilliantly, both honouring and transcending its origins. Irene Gutierrez Caba dominates as the widowed and gloomy matriarch Bernada, who tyrannically controls the lives of her five eligible daughters. It can be seen in the Screen 3 at 4.40pm on October 30th. Other highlights include prizewinners from this year’s Cannes Film Festival; Clint Eastwood's Bird (a study of the lives and times of the tragic jazz player Charlie Parker), A World Apart (a brilliant condemnation of apartheid). Thou Shalt Not Kill and South. Peter Greenaway's Drowning By Numbers can be seen at 8.30 on October 27th, and The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne will be shown at 5.40pm on October 28th. The Law of Desire will be on view on October 29th at 2.00pm in the Screen 1. For a complete listing of the Festival's offerings, check out the full programme brochure, which is available for £1.50 at the Booking Office (Unit 25, Royal Hibernian Way, Dublin 2). Inquiries regarding ticket prices, concession rates, bookings etc can be made at (01) 798001.

CORK HALLOWEEN PARTY There will be a party in the Quay Co-Op, Sullivans Quay, Cork on Saturday the 29th October. Further information can be had by ringing the Co-Op on (021) 317660.

"Hooray Henries, the 7-nighter in the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin, seems to be going from strength to strength these days. After opening 18 months ago as the first fully gay seven night a week licensed night club in Ireland, they have engaged in a policy of providing the customer with pleasant and comfortable decor in relaxed surroundings. In continuing with this policy, they recently enlarged their dance floor by about 40%, and updated their air-conditioning system. Although this, to some extent, gets rid of the 'hot 'n' sweaty' atmosphere of the weekends, it does mean that the dance floor is much more bearable on a Saturday night. There is a full range of wines on offer to the customer, as well as Martini, Dubonnet and, of course Ballygowen for the discerning tea-totaller. John, the barman, is always willing to help customers with their choice of wine. Although some may consider the prices to be expensive, manager Eugene is quick to point out that, on average, they are not as excessive as Leeson St. Musically the club should please most people. Albert O'Connor, the resident DJ since the club opened, plays a good cross-section from current HiNRG and Euro hits, while Gerry Moore, a mere newcomer, having only been there three months, plays House, HiNRG, funk and soul. However, the DJ's are always willing to cater for every taste, so if you want anything, just ask. Even Frank Sinatra and U2 were heard there recently, not to mention Talking Heads! Over the Halloween weekend, Hooray Henries will be having one big party, with special decorations and costumes, and spot prizes on some nights. The prize for the Parliament Inn's fancy dress night will be presented in the club later on the night in question, namely Saturday 29th October. So whether for a good bop, or a relaxing drink, get on down to Hooray Henries. Tony Murphy"

Womack and Womack, currently doing very well in the charts with Teardrops, are due to play Dublin before Christmas. Should be a fab night for all soul sisters ........ Highlight of this month must be the Cork Jazz Festival, which, unfortunately clashes with THE Halloween Ball, running the weekend of the 28-31 October ......... Flikkers Halloween Ball takes place on the 30th October, a Sunday night, in the Irish Film Institute, Eustace St., Dublin. With DJ's coming over from London it should be a night to remember (so don't get too drunk.) ........ The new Pet Shop Boys' Album, Introspective, is now available. It features many new works, and radical re-works of older material, including their own version of I'm not scared ......... Current ones to watch in the better dance clubs: Can You Party, by Royal House, now an anthem in London, and We call it Aiceed, by D-Mob, now in the charts.

"Introspective Pet Shop Boys (Parlophone) An eclectic mix, Introspective is a veritable musical treat. The superbly frantic ""Left to my own devices"" starts the album with sweeping orchestral arrangements, swirling operatic voices and a disco feel that brings you right back to the Seventies. Percussion and various other sounds enter and leave as the song glides along. Also on the first side is the tongue-in-cheek ""I want a Dog"" and the Latin-styled ""Domino Dancing"", their current single. The second side opens with a version of ""I'm not scared"" which is saturated with delightfully soothing strings and dripping synth sounds. ""Always on my mind"" has been stripped to the minimum which accentuates those soaring backing vocals. A new foot stomping bass line has been added, accompanied by light synth arrangements and the whole thing slides effortlessly into a brilliantly clever, semi­ house number, ""In my house"". To finish it all of is the uptempo ""It's alright"" which has a wonderful gospel/blues feel. Introspective is a thoroughly thoughtful album with the Pet Shop Boys breaking out of the essentially Euro/HiNRG/Electro-beat mould and drawing on a wider range of musical styles. The mixture of orchestral/acoustic instruments with electronic sounds has produced a more mature, sophisticated sound, especially on the new songs, which along with the excellent production has made for a highly polished album. And as usual it's packaged in a simple but highly stylised way. Tim Pitt"

"1. TEARDROPS - Womack and Womack 2.A LITTLE RESPECT - Erasure 3. RIDING ON A TRAIN (underground mix) / TRIBUTE (screaming cat mix) - Pasadenas 4. LOVE EVICTION / (Looking for someone to love) TONIGHT - Quartzclock 5. THESE THINGS HAPPEN - Viola Wills 6. DOMINO DANCING - Pet Shop Boys 7. BIG FUN - Inner City featuring Kevin Saunderson 8. I CAN FLY - Louise Thomas 9. BURN IT UP - Beatmasters 10. HIT 'N' RUN LOVER - Carol Jiani"

"Have You A Problem? Dear Dorothy, I have been reading your column since the very start although I wasn't sure how serious you were because of the little pictures. I am not gay but my mother is and it was me who picked up the copy of Gay Community News in college and brought it home for my mother to read. Now the problem I'm writing to you about is concerning my mother and her girlfriend. She has been living with us for the past 5 years but recently they've been fighting and arguing a lot. Usually it’s over silly little things like leaving clothes around the house. I have seen my mother cry a lot over their arguments and her girlfriend gets upset too. The problem is I don't know what to do. Sometimes I hate coming back in the evenings because I'll find my mother moody as usual and just sitting around the house not interested in anything or anyone. From a frustrated girl in Dublin Dear Frustrated, Firstly all letters received are taken very seriously. Regarding the problem of your mother and her lover. Because they haven't written to me personally with their problems it makes it much more difficult for me to advise you or them. However, from what you've described I can see some classic routine symptoms rearing their ugly heads here. Arguing over what appears to be silly things is very common among couples who have hit a low spot and are feeling resentment toward their partner or very often toward themselves. This is usually a cover up for what they really want to say, e.g. ""pick up your socks!"" (I'm pissed off). They can either make or break their relationship at this point and this is where you can help. You said your mother was moping around the house. This is what you have to avoid. Encourage her to go out as much as possible. Go out with her if you can; she needs to get involved in some outside activity. Your mother requires other interests and hobbies to fill up her life and occupy her time, so that when she does see her lover again they will have new things to share and talk about. You'll be surprised how well this course of action can work. It's up to all three of you to get this plan into action. I see you are from Dublin. The lesbian and gay community here in Dublin needs a lot of motivated, interested people. We have a lot of work to do and not enough people to go around. Perhaps your mother would be interested in getting involved. If not, there are plenty of other organisations, groups, clubs and activities she may be interested in. I wish you, your mother and her lover luck for the future. Dorothy"

"JOAN COLLINS FAN CLUB at Edmund Burke Hall, Trinity College, Dublin If you sat in the front row, arrived late, decided to take a trip to the toilet or even laughed in an unusual way, you inevitably fell victim to the sharp and wonderfully abusive tongue of Julian Clary who is the Joan Collins Fan Club. The Joan Collins Fan Club is an alternative Drag Act which is camp, witty and entertaining. The eighty minute set gave us some riotous moments though slow paced and at times he laboured on a joke to the point of boredom. Clary especially had it in for James Anderton, supply teachers, Roger Whitaker, policemen, heterosexuals and Judith Chalmers. Whilst his set was often gratuitously smutty and contained standard material, the presentation was refreshing original. Without Fanny the Wonder Dog in this show, Clary was accompanied by 'the lovely Russell' (the only heterosexual in show business, according to Clary) and together they provided some hilarious musical entertainment. Especially memorable was their brilliant rendition of 'Leader of the Pack' and their own 'You put sugar in my tea again, you bastard!' The Joan Collins Fan Club makes a welcome change from the typical, outdated drag shows. We didn't leave the theatre with aching faces, but certainly felt well entertained. Tim Pitt"

"All American boy, 26 yrs, w/blonde hair, hazel eyes, 6 feet, 1651bs, seeks Irish pen pal to share warm thoughts, and possible photo. Love music, parties and romantic evenings. PERSONAL ADS are free. When replying place your sealed reply with appropriate postage and box number in an envelope and mail to GCN, Personal Ads, PO Box 931, Dublin 4. All personal ad requests are handled by one person of the GCN staff in strictest confi­dence. If you wish to place an ad please either write or tele­phone us at the above ad­dress/telephone (01)732693 2-5pm."

"SIMON FANSHAWE AND JENNY LECOAT Project Arts Centre, Dublin, October 3rd-8th. Simon and Jenny both toured Ireland in 1984 with ""Three of a Different Kind"", performing at the Hirschfeld Centre and University College, Dublin. They’ve got a good comic line in sexual politics but seeing them a few years ago prepared me for their show at the Project which I felt was a little wanting in parts. Jenny Lecoat's act was once described as ""politically conscientious filth"" which, based on her performance at the Project, was quite true. However, I don't know if it was the late time (billed for 11.30pm although she didn't come on until 11.45pm) or my own perceptions of the act but I found the whole thing dragging somewhat. There was no denying the humour of Jenny's performance; very sharp and outrageously funny as she put (mainly) men, our lifestyles, attitudes, pecadillos and more often than not, our penises, under her acidic tongue. Metaphorically speaking of course. Simon Fanshawe came on and regaled the audience with jokes which centred around his gayness. I began to find this a bit of a bore after a short while although it was interesting to observe the reactions of other people in the audience. For example, the British Embassy, who sponsored the show, was impassive during some of silly Simon's speak while a faggot contingent nearly collectively creased itself with laughter. Religion and America got a good poking but I just wanted my bed at that stage. Simon needs to tighten up his act or he could be left behind by his endearing colleague Jenny. That said, the venue was ideal for this type of cabaret/political theatre. Jon Hues"

SATISFYING WRITING A lot of Satisfaction is promised in Rotterdam between 17-22 October next. Satisfaction is the first, large scale festival of lesbian and gay writing in Europe. The six day long festival aims at a wide representation and investigation of lesbian and gay imagination and reality in writing. The event is being organisd by ALGWE, the Dutch branch of the Association of Lesbian and Gay Writers in Europe. An estimated 150 authors, translators, playwrights, publishers, screen writers and historians from all over Europe are expected to attend the festival. A number of wellknown landmarks in the Dutch city will be used for the event including the Rotterdamse Schouwberg (municipal theatre), De Doelen Festival Complex and a number of cinemas. The festival hopes to investigate the situation of lesbian and gay writing in many European countries, looking at the cultural, social, political and marketing perspectives. To this end a number of leading writers from throughout the continent have been invited to speak and make presentations. Among the guests are: Thomas Boehme (GDR), Sergej Dedjoelin (USSR, now living in France), Tom Wakefield, Maureen Duffy and Francis King (all from Britain), Ladislav Fuks (Czechoslovakia), Alberto Cardin (Italy), Liana Bog Borghi (France). Cinematic presentations of writers like Sylvia Plath, Gertrude Stein and Oscar Wilde are also scheduled along with the work of new film makers. All in all, it will be a feast of creativity and exploration which can only serve to stimulate the diffusion of lesbian and gay writing in translation throughout Europe. Plans have already been made for the 1989 festival which will take place in Spain. The Dutch Minister for Culture is expected to open the festival in Rotterdam.

A festive weekend of staggering proportions is expected to erupt in Dublin city over the Halloween Bank Holiday period (28-31 October). Halloween has become a major party fixture for the population at large and gay people prove no exception. "Gay bars and nightclubs in the capital city have planned all kinds of funny, ghoulish and outrageous events to captivate their customers and ensure the party mood keeps flowing throughout the last, pre- Christmas holiday. The Parliament Inn, Parliament Street; Hooray Henries, Sth. William Street and JJ.'s of Aungier Street (Women only) have all planned fancy dress parties for Saturday 29th October. For many, the ""icing on the cake"" comes the following day when the former staff of Flikkers Dance Club (Hirschfeld Centre) host the 6th Annual Halloween Ball. The George and Loft bars at Sth. Gt. George's Street and Dame Lane respectively, will be hosting a Pre-Ball Reception on the night of Sunday 30th October from 8-9 pm. The Ball itself will be held at the Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace Street, Dublin 2. It is expected to attract several hundred women and men in all manner of costume. Full details of the weekend's festivities are contained in this issue. For events happening outside Dublin readers should contact their local gay group or telephone the switchboard service. See listings inside for numbers." "Gay bars and nightclubs in the capital city have planned all kinds of funny, ghoulish and outrageous events to captivate their customers and ensure the party mood keeps flowing throughout the last, pre- Christmas holiday. The Parliament Inn, Parliament Street; Hooray Henries, Sth. William Street and JJ.'s of Aungier Street (Women only) have all planned fancy dress parties for Saturday 29th October. For many, the ""icing on the cake"" comes the following day when the former staff of Flikkers Dance Club (Hirschfeld Centre) host the 6th Annual Halloween Ball. The George and Loft bars at Sth. Gt. George's Street and Dame Lane respectively, will be hosting a Pre-Ball Reception on the night of Sunday 30th October from 8-9 pm. The Ball itself will be held at the Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace Street, Dublin 2. It is expected to attract several hundred women and men in all manner of costume. Full details of the weekend's festivities are contained in this issue. For events happening outside Dublin readers should contact their local gay group or telephone the switchboard service. See listings inside for numbers."

"Gay Community News is looking for original fiction for inclusion in a section devoted to new gay writing in Ireland. Contributions will be welcomed in short story form or in poetry, and any novel sequences submitted may be serialised. This is your chance to find a readership of millions, so begin composing. Send material to: CREATIVE WRITING SECTION,GAY COMMUNITY NEWS, P.O. BOX 931, DUBLIN 4. Authors are advised that, a) not all contributions may be published, b) G.C.N. accepts no responsibility for mss. lost or damaged while in our possession, and anonymity will be respected if so desired, but the author will be required to use a pseudonym."

A NEW SIDES SIDES Dance Club, the ever-popular nightclub in Dublin's city centre, was recently sold to businessman John Murphy. Mr. Murphy (29) has extensively renovated and refurbished the trendy club which hosted a gay night every Sunday before its sale and subsequent four-week closure.The new club will be launched at a Press Reception and private party on Wednesday 26th October. It will open to the public shortly afterwards. NEXT ISSUE Issue 10 will be published on November 7. If you've some news please ring it through to us now.

EVERYONE’S WORLD Mick Lally from the popular television series Glenroe will be launching this year's One World, Our World Week at the Project Arts Centre, Essex Street on Sunday 23rd October. One World, Our World is an association of youth, community groups and development agencies which formed in 1985 to promote a week of action throughout the country to highlight the links between people in Ireland and in the developing world. The week of action runs from 22nd-29th October and has as its theme "MINORITIES". For the special launch at the Project about twenty groups, including travellers, gay people, African students, the handicapped, religious minorities and others will mount theatre and other visual events as well as hosting information stands. The National Gay Federation will be among the groups represented at the launch. Ria Breathnach, the Co-ordinator of One World, Our World, explained the purpose of the Dublin launch: "Our first and foremost aim is to be work towards a better understanding between people in their communities by raising awareness about the different cultures of the people that make up the population of Dublin. By learning about each other and each other's cultures, we can try and understand the links that bind us together.We hope to achieve this aim by organising an event which combines information with enjoyment - on the one hand information about the groups involved, on the other hand exhibitions, films, slideshows, music, theatre etc. A spin-off effect is, we hope, that by working together with representatives from different organisations, we will get a better understanding of each other and our aims, and in this way we will be better prepared to work towards justice, peace and development." A week of action to highlight The links between people in one world Saturday 22nd - Saturday 29th October, 1988

Fr. Lynch Case The case of Fr. Bernard Lynch is due for a hearing in New York on 12th October having been adjourned on several occasions. Fr. Lynch, from Ennis, Co. Clare, is facing alleged sexual abuse charges. He has consistently denied the charges. Informed sources in the New York gay community say Fr. Lynch is bearing up well to the situation and indeed has returned to work - ministering to PWA's.There has been a tremendous response from the AIDS and gay community to Fr. Lynch's case. Many groups have been involved in fundraising for the court hearing and an average of forty friends and observers have consistently attended the court hearings.

NEW PHONE NUMBERS Tel-A-Friend, Gay Switchboard, has a new phone number. The line at (01) 307453 operates three days a week - Monday and Wednesday from 7-9pm and on Saturdays from 3-6pm. The Youthline is not operating at the moment.

UCDGAYSOC GAYSOC at University College Dublin has been encountering difficulties with its traditional meeting place in the University' Arts Block. The group's recent problems should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with GaySoc's futile attempts at college recognition consistently denied by the Academic Council of UCD. GaySoc will have a stand at Freshers' Week in late October.Latest news from the campus is that the group meets on Tuesdays lunchtime in Room El 14 of the Arts Block. This may change so students or indeed anyone visiting the group should contact the Students' Union beforehand.Students' Union Welfare Officer, Anne-Marie Keary, has been very active in encouraging the GaySoc and intends spearheading a major recognition campaign for the society early next year. Meanwhile, Ms. Keary was able to tell GCN that plans are underway for a Gay Awareness Week in the University. The special week will be held in January.

"Aggie stood with her back firmly against the door. She couldn't move. How could she face that woman? She'd have to leave her lovely apartment and find somewhere else far away. This bothered her considerably as she liked living in Rathmines. There was a knock on the door. Aggie's heart began to pound. She froze. Then once more that knock. She jumped and opened the door. ""Oh it's you"" said Aggie. It was another one of her neighbours, Julie. She was oblivious to what Julie said - something about a party and noise and she was welcome. Aggie declined and thanked her. She looked in her cupboard; there was enough food for the weekend, she wouldn't have to leave and risk bumping into Skye. Aggie sat down to her books. She tried to relax but something bothered her. She decided to have a bath; that would relax her for sure. She had already undressed when there was another knock at the door. Aggie asked who it was: Julie shouted back, saying she was looking for ice. Aggie opened the door and checked the freezer. She only had two trays. Julie took them gladly. ""You really should come down you know. It's really starting to warm up downstairs!"" Aggie apologised. She didn't feel well. ""If it's your period I have a great remedy handed down from my Grandmother"". Aggie reaffirmed she'd had a hard day and she needed to relax. Julie left and Aggie went about her business. Sliding into the water, she began to feel better already. The water steamed upwards and brought with it the scent of jasmine. Aggie breathed deeply. She felt relaxed and warm. The water began to ripple as she moved her legs about. She began to massage her body: her legs, her stomach, her breasts. Her stomach began to feel ever so jittery. Moving one of her hands between her legs she began to caress herself. Her thoughts drifted to that night only a few weeks before. She felt her groin pulsating. Her breathing became laboured. She clearly saw Skye and remembered her touch, her hands and her tongue. Hearing herself groan she wanted to scream. Instead she gasped as she came and collapsed into the water. Once again the water rippled like a giant hand caressing her whole body at once. She became submerged, she wanted to feel her body touched and caressed. She wanted Skye. Her dream was broken when she heard a knock and footsteps. Aggie got out of the bath and wrapped herself in a big bath towel. She opened her bathroom door and was confronted by Skye. Aggie was dumbstruck. Skye said nothing as the two women remained locked in each other's eyes. Neither one moved or said a word for what seemed like an eternity. Skye had made dinner for Aggie and wanted to talk. Aggie nervously accepted. Aggie dressed and went next door. Skye smiled as she opened the door to her guest. At the table Aggie found herself seated across from Skye, all her previous anger and frustration evaporated. She sat and listened to Skye chatting quietly. Skye seemed much different. The two of them ate and drank and talked. And talked. They laughed and joked. Aggie felt so warm and peaceful. The music - Delibes - was so perfect. Aggie didn't want the evening to end. Skye got up and went to her bedroom. She came back a few minutes later with a small box in her hand. ""I have a gift for you"", she said and placed the box in Aggie's hand. Aggie was about to protest when Skye gave a devastatingly loving look. Startled, Aggie meekly thanked Skye and opened the box. It was a necklace with a tiny unicorn at the end. Skye took the necklace, opened it and placed it around Aggie's neck. Skye's scent crept up to Aggie's nose. She took her fill of it and felt a pulling in her groin. Looking into Skye's green eyes she felt as though she was swimming. Skye came closer and kissed Aggie on one cheek and then the other. She kissed her eyes and her mouth, slowly and lovingly without resting in one spot for long. Aggie's arms gently pulled Skye closer. She could feel Skye's soft breasts against her own. Her hands moved over Skye's body, down her back, all the time gently squeezing and touching. They began to undress each other. Soon they were on the floor, all inhibitions and clothes cast aside. Skye's hand felt between Aggie's legs. She was delighted that Aggie was so full and wet. Gently she rubbed Aggie's clitoris. Aggie found Skye wet and open. They embraced, touched, kissed deeply, fought a little and both breathed heavily. They found pleasure in each other's bodies. With an immense shudder they both came, two bodies wild with passion as they shook and eventually collapsed into each other sweating and intoxicated. Skye got up and pulled Aggie with her. ""Let's shower"", she said. Aggie protested so Skye carried her into the bathroom. They washed each other and found the experience stimulating. It brought them both back to bed with a renewed passion that surprised each of them. Lying in each other's arms Aggie said she was afraid to fall asleep even though exhausted. ""Afraid"" asked Skye, ""Why afraid?"" ""The last time I slept with you I woke up to find an empty bed"", replied Aggie. Skye said she wasn't going anywhere this time without Aggie. Aggie laughed. ""Even to the loo?"" ""If you want, but I don't think that's necessary"". That night they slept together, body and soul. Even the party downstairs couldn't have disturbed their peace that night. Concluded"