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At Dublin bears its a smaller,
a smaller group basically
its started to be actually big
actually over here.
Its been here at least 10 years
its really kind of kicked off
in the last say two or three years.
Compared to the rest of European cities
our Government in one
has held us back
There is still this stigma over Ireland
that we're a Catholic country.
Probably Ireland is maybe one of the
last few countries to actually
de-criminalise homosexual activity
it was an offence and you could be
thrown in prison for it.
Most people when you say to them
I'm a bear they look and say
'Oh, what's a bear?'
They haven't a clue what it means.
I usually say to them if you could
just imagine a bear
he is very masculine
he's hairy, he's big,
he gives you a good hug
if you could, that's a bear!
Its actually two years ago
I went to my first bear event
which was in Manchester
and I decided 'I like this'
and we came up with an idea
of starting something back here
ourselves in Ireland because
there was nothing, nobody had
come up with an idea of
starting an event,
a bear event here so
its a nice friendly bunch of guys
getting together and having
a nice weekend.
Its starting to spread
I think when Dublin bears
first started there wasn't too many of us
and then 'Bear Feile' happened
and I think it drove more and more
guys into the scene.
Hopefully now we will get
more and more recognition in Dublin
I suppose that Ireland is the higher
degree of friendship
and more fun I would say
and making sure the visitors
particularly are well looked after
and well you know
well attended to and
nobody is left on their own.
My family are actually
know what the whole bear thing is now
even my niece who is
ten years of age
like knows I'm a bear like.
Typical kind of guy I'd go for would be
like stocky,
hairy...
Well my perfect guy would be
a guy with a beard
if you get on very well with a person
and you have a connection
that's the perfect guy.
John Heyes, he's a rugby player.
That is John Heyes!
It can only get bigger and better from here
we can just grow
from strength to strength
and get Dublin recognised
as a city to visit for bear culture.