Episode 13
Shine A Light
Friday, 6 November 2026 - 36 minutes
When Tess Tickles moved back to Ireland and settled in Athlone, drag bookings were hard to come by. So she put on a show of her own. Those early performances drew crowds of 15 or 20 people. Today, her drag collective, The Haus of Kwen, has sold out shows in Athlone, Tullamore and beyond.
Behind Tess is Cavan native Barry Toomey, who had always wanted to perform. It was only after moving to London in his early thirties and discovering drag that he found a way onto the stage that felt right.
“I can’t sing, I never made it as an actor I always wanted to be a performer I can dance I can hold a rhythm or two so that gave me the character to become that on stage and it gave a mask. Barry is confident but not that confident. Tess gave me that power when I step on stage I am so empowered I can take over the world”
With her slicked-back ponytail and fierce stage presence, Tess found her calling as a mistress of ceremonies. After performing in the UK, she took a step back from drag to pursue other projects.
“I put her under the bed for a while I needed a break”
By the time she settled in Athlone, Tess was ready to bring the ponytail out again. When bookings proved difficult to secure, she sought out other Midlands queens to form a drag family. The idea was to put on a good night out and give local LGBTQ+ people a space where they could feel at home.
“I had an itch to do something, I can’t make booked and make your own show”
Building an audience took time, but the queens kept putting on shows.
“It was a struggle it’s getting easy and better at the start we were performing to 15-20 people but we kept going”
There’s also the cost of getting Tess stage-ready. She commissions custom costumes from designers across Ireland, but the wigs are now a family affair. Her husband John recently discovered a talent for styling them, giving Tess one more reason to be glad she said yes.
“It’s the best investment I ever made for my drag was getting married”
For Tess, having a regular LGBTQ+ night close to home matters for people’s wellbeing and sense of safety, particularly in rural Ireland.
“In rural Ireland it is vitally important, and a lot of people are moving back from the cites as they are too expensive so they are here again”
The Haus of Kwen brings its spectacular show to The Piano Bar in Athlone tonight as part of Heartlands Pride’s Winter Pride celebrations discussed in full on Shine a Light.
Shine a Light is funded by the News Reporting Scheme.
