Unpredictable and Heartfelt Fun – Bear Féile 2025

Alex Fortes, Mr. Lisbon BearPride 2024, returns to BWM to share his experience at this year’s Bear Féile, organized by the Dublin Bears.

I had a friendly choice of words for Shane—one of Bear Féile’s organizers—after he unexpectedly invited me to talk on stage. It didn’t go that badly… I may have accidentally annexed Portugal to Spain while introducing myself. It’s not a party without a bit of diplomatic drama! Anyway, Shane’s reply was: “It’s funnier this way, and it comes from the heart.” I think he wasn’t just describing my unfortunate presentation—in a certain way, he may have unintentionally described Bear Féile itself.

There’s a certain element of fun chaos about it. To borrow the words of Panti Bliss on election night, “it’s amazing it survived 15 years.” Some bingo and raffle prizes were tickets for next year’s event, followed by the warning “well, if it happens” and a shrug. Nowhere could you find who the candidates were before the presentation on the second night. And there are no audience votes to count, you just cheer for your favorites and let the judges feel the vibe. Bring down that raised eyebrow and I will explain why this actually works out so well!

Welcome to Dublin, Ireland. Mid-March. Weather: as unpredictable as your hosts. We got lucky with just a few light sprinkles and sunny spells. I’m told they’ve had snow some years, so be prepared for anything! The airport is about 30 minutes from the city by car, or a little longer by public transport. The city center is smaller than it looks on the map and not very hilly, so it’s easy to go around walking. We found a few nice hotel options north of the river Liffey, same side as two of the event venues, and there’s a lot of convenient (and some picturesque!) bridges to cross to the south side in just a couple minutes. Right there, you’ll find the famous Temple Bar. Snap your tourist-trap photo in front of the facade and then let the local bears take you to more welcoming (and definitely cheaper!) pubs.

The weekend kicked off early on Thursday with registration (don’t worry, you could still get your wristband later at other events) and Meet & Greet at Pennylane, a stylish bar (classic brick, but with a modern vibe and warm lighting) north side of the river. Plenty of organizers were there to welcome guests and introduce us to the local bear scene. From there, we moved to “Bridie’s Bar”, the small pub space within The George. Cozy for sure, but part of Dublin’s LGBTQ+ history as one of the oldest queer venues since years before homosexuality was decriminalized in Ireland.

Friday brought one of my favorite events—and yes, I’m biased. Being from Galicia (that Celtic corner in northwest Spain), I have a soft spot for folk music—much like the traditional tunes of Ireland. Bear Ceili at Street 66 delivered exactly that. We were invited to dance to the live music of Anthony “Booster” Bools, and oh boy, I didn’t miss the chance! If you ever find yourself here, don’t just be a wallflower—join in. They’ll give you a quick tutorial so you can dance like a local (or at least, that’s what a few pints of Guinness will tell you).

Later that night came the real highlight: Glitter Bear at DV8, just a stone’s throw from the Guinness Brewery. This is when the candidates for Mr. Bear Ireland 2025 were finally introduced. It was great to see such a diverse line-up—probably one of the most varied I’ve seen this past year.

Then came Saturday. Before the main event, our hosts had a bit of cheeky fun in store for us at BingoDisco in Pantibar, just across from Pennylane. Grab a couple cards, test your music knowledge, and maybe win some wristbands, vouchers, or booze. And if you’re not lucky, just remember: the real prize is the friends you made this afternoon… or so I told myself, while watching both neighboring tables win something.

Anyway, it’s election time! Off to Button Factory for a night of craic (that’s Irish for “a good time”) with our hosts Panti Bliss (the legendary queen and LGBTQ+ rights activist) and… well, my mate Shane (his status as “mate” still under review after that “Alex, there’s your mic” trick—you cheeky bugger). They did an amazing job keeping us entertained, along the band Upbeat Generation and DJ Corky.

But let’s not forget about the competition. How does it work in Dublin? It kicked off with a short on-stage interview with each candidate. Then, Panti asked the audience for random numbers to bring candidates forward for a sexy little dance. And finally, the exciting part: each candidate stepped forward once again, so the public could cheer for their favorites. That might sound hard to measure, but bear with me. A panel of judges gives scores based on their interviews, dance moves, their “bear factor”… but they also weigh in the crowd’s reaction. And when the race is tight—as it was this year—the public support can tip the balance. That support was already noticeable on presentation night, and it was also there during the competition, crowning Eamon Bishop as the new Mister Bear Ireland.

And honestly? I’m relieved I wasn’t judging—it was a tough call. But I’m so glad the community’s voice was heard. Eamon, from what I learned, is a beloved figure in the local scene. At 60, he felt it was time to give back and represent his community—and clearly, everyone agreed. His warmth and authenticity left a real impression. If you want to know more, check out his BWM interview!

Sadly, I had to leave early on Sunday, the last day, so I missed the Bear Sauna at the BoilerHouse and the Bear Bingo at The George (hosted by the iconic Shirley Temple Bar). I’m already looking forward to experiencing them next year! I did make it to the Cabaret Bear Bus Tour with the adorable Kris Capelli, who was our very knowledgeable guide through Dublin, with equal parts facts, banter, and spontaneous performances—despite technical hiccups and the challenge of singing atop a bumpy and wobbly double-decker. It was topped with bears after all! If you’ve read my other reviews, you’ll know how much I love it when events include local tours, so our hosts can share with us a bit of their home—and this tour was easily one of the most fun I’ve been on.

So yes, while Bear Féile may look like pure chaos wrapped in folk music and Guinness, it’s actually a beautifully crafted, big-hearted celebration of bears, Ireland, and community, where you can both enjoy yourself and learn about the city and its LGBTQ+ history. And for all the teasing about “maybe” happening next year, just a few days after the weekend (and before some of us had even recovered!), early-bird tickets for the next Bear Féile were already available on their website! I’ve got mine—and if you’ve ever thought about visiting Dublin or experiencing Bear Féile, next year’s may be your chance to soak up the craic, the charm, and that big-hearted Irish welcome.

P.S. Before I sign off, a heartfelt shout-out to Ian, the previous Mr. Bear Ireland, who got injured during the Mr. Bear Gran Canaria competition at Maspalomas Bear Carnival while volunteering to make sure the audience would enjoy a great show. Sending big bear hugs and wishing him a speedy and full recovery ahead of his participation in the Mr. Bear Europe competition this July in Poland!