Hey ya’all….welp, it’s tricky enough to write on this thing now, as there is no way I can compete with the amazing posts recently put up by our very own Niamh and Derrick!
Just wanting to keep you updated about our workshop this Saturday: Recycling Art Workshop. It should be pretty cool. Larissa, who is a local artist will be showing us how to make lamp shades using recycled products. Hope to see you there!
In the past year shOUT! has seen many changes and has achieved so much.
From the first group of the year starting off with our new youth worker, Emma, the group was heading down a new and unknown road. At first the taughts were ’she isnt Maria’ 
lol, but then she turned up with those lemon and poppy seed buns, yummy!!! she had us won over. What makes it better is that it wasn’t the only time we got to taste her and Maureen’s cooking.
During her time with shOUT! she had us climbing up the walls, in NUIG, which i loved.
She also got us being proactive and giving back to the community, by being one of the only groups in the country to acknowledge and celebrate IDAHO, international day against homophobia and transphobia.
We also drummed in dublin pride, galway pride and limerick pride parades, and also in the NOISE march for equality.
We made a promo video and pod cast with the help of spun out. We also attended the ‘Out on Film’ part of the Galway Film Fleadh 2009.
Also this year 4 of our members traveled to bundoran to an over 18s weekend orgunised Dundalk Out Comers. Sorry to the people who didnt get to go. but it was a good weekend.
Around this stage of the year Emma got her good news, that she had gotten her PHD course. Although great news for her, it wasnt so much for us, because it meant she would b leaving us 
The news though was made more positive when we met Emmas replacement Sara, who has continued to make shOUT! a fun and interesting place to go each and every week.
This past year also saw 3 out of 4 of our regular volunteers leaving us to go to bigger and better places. (Ye need to come back and visit people!!) In their place we now have Niamh and Paul So great to work with and determined to do what it takes to keep this group running and always make every1 feel welcome and get every1 involved each week.
Galway pride…what an event. For shOUT! this involved running our own pride events, an open samba lesson, a treasure hunt, drumming in the parade and then our drag show and youth disco. We had people down for Belong2 in dublin and my lgb in limerick, making for a memorable weekend. 
I just want to say thanks to you all, friends old and new, for making this year such a good one.
and lets made next year even better!!
Christmas is fast approaching and the turkeys are becoming suspicious.
So..what does Christmas mean to you? This time of year conjures various emotions and memories in each of us – I know it certainly does for me. I just wanted to share a few thoughts of mine on this festive season.
Christmas is about celebration and being at home (where-ever and whatever home means to you). However there is also an undercurrent of sadness around this time of year. Sometimes it can be a lonely reminder of the special people who do not have a physical presence in my life anymore but who remain with me in other ways. It can remind me of lost innocence, it can remind me that life is short, too fleeting and that petty fighting is pointless. It can throw light on the issue of poverty – the gap between the rich and the poor, it can remind me never to eat my body weight in sweets ever again! Ultimately, for me, it’s the time of year when I really take stock of what I have in my life that I am thankful for. This is the first Christmas that I have been in involved in ShOUT! I am truly thankful for that.
ShOUT! has helped me reach a greater peace with my sexuality and I couldn’t think of a better present to give. Each unique person that I have come across through ShOUT! has been a pleasure to meet and I have learned a lot from every one of you in many ways . It means a lot to me to be part of this group. I feel lucky and very thankful. I look forward to what the new year will bring for ShOUT!
Around Christmas there are lots of messages of peace to be seen. Peace is beautiful. You can’t see peace or touch peace but you can see and feel the effects of it. When you reach an inner peace you can tackle anything. You are strengthened by this force and it gently shows you that you never have to feel ashamed of who you are and never, ever feel ashamed of who you love. Love is greater than anything. I truly believe this. If you love a man or a woman or a cat it doesn’t matter. Do not feel embarrassed for loving anyone. Your feelings are your own. They are yours and no-one has the right to judge or dismiss them.
So now that I most definitely sound like a peace- loving and love-loving hippy, I will wrap this up (get it? wrap up like the way we wrap presents!) That’s how I roll man. 
I wish you all a lovely Christmas and I hope to see you all at the ShOUT! Christmas party on Sat Dec19th! Being part of ShOUT! has made me a stronger person and it has been a true gift this year providing light, insight and introducing new friends into my life. I feel part of something that is truly worthwhile. I am thankful for the gift of the experiences I’ve had with you all in 2009. Nollaig shona duit, eat lots and enjoy being jolly.
Your friend niamh
Hey shOUT! At last….the Drag Workshop is taking place this Saturday! Bring along any clothes or make up ye may have. You’ll leave shOUT! feeling like a new woman (or man)!
hey guys. just a quick message to say the drag workshop was great fun. every1 got involved and seen what it was like to walk in the other genders shoes…hehe. And a big thank you the Mairead and Liam who showed us how its done. all in all a great group. Sara you missed another fun 1….hehe
Derrick!
Hellllo folks. Saturday we’ll be taking a look at the media and seeing how we can critically look at the way gender and sexuality are portrayed in newspapers and magazines. We’ll do this of course over a nice relaxed cuppa….Look forward to seeing you there! 
)
Hey guys, the parents from LOOK (Loving Our Out Kids) won’t be able to make it to the Saturday group, so instead we’ll be doing Karaoke on Saturday! So, prepare yourselves for a fun day of singing and dreaming of being the next X-Factor contestant!
Hey Guys, some of you may or may not know that One World Week is taking place the 14th – 22nd of November. One World Week is a week of youth-led awareness raising, education and action, during which young people learn about local and global justice issues and take action to bring about change. One World Week takes place every year in the third week of November and is organised to coincide with the UN designated Universal Children’s Day on November 20th, which is the anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
On Saturday, we will have a workshop from the Galway One World Centre, which will look at critical analysis of the unequal power relationships that historically and currently exist between diverse groups, both locally and globally.
The aim of the Galway One World Centre is to empower people through education, direct action, networking, outreach and provision of resources to create a world where all people have equality of rights, opportunities and respect. You can find out more about the centre on http://www.galwayowc.org/
The workshop will be interesting and get our minds thinking about the bigger picture of equality. Hope to see you there!
Hey shOUT!, this Saturday we’ll have an instructor from the Galway Community Circus (An Sorcas Beag) show us a few circus moves, we’ll be meeting at the usual Youth Work Ireland Office from 4-6. Hope to see you there!
Well, Halloween has finally arrived and shOUT! is celebrating in style! We’re going to go back to our childhood days and play loads of games, eat candy til we get sick, and have a caramel apple or two. There will be a prize for best dressed, so be sure to get creative with your halloween garb!
Halloween Joke that you’ll love: )
Why don’t skeletons like parties?
Because they have no body to dance with
Hey everyone, just a reminder that we’re not having shOUT! this Saturday as it’s the bank holiday weekend. This will give you extra time to prepare for your Halloween Costume for the Par-tay on Saturday the 31st!