Litreacha: Putting the Letters in LGBTQIA+
Em Egan Reeve 2024, photo by Ciara Foran
By Emily Marie Mayo, Deputy Features Editor
Litreacha, the Irish word for ‘letters,’ has taken a whole new meaning for Cork City’s queer community as of June 2024. Founded by UCC alumni, Em Egan Reeve and Louis Egan McCutcheon, Litreacha is a queer creative haven on the rise. Held at 8pm on the last Sunday of every month at Nudes Craft and Cocktail bar, Litreacha is an open arts event that embraces a multitude of art forms, inviting anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community to showcase their creative work. Beyond being a veritable mine for talent, Litreacha is a testament to the transformative power of community, creativity, and queerness.
Late last year, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Em Egan Reeve and Louis Egan McCutcheon for an interview to talk about their growing creation, as I’ve been attending religiously since August 2024 when I moved to Cork City from the States and can testify to their success. I didn’t know what to expect when I walked through the doors at Nudes, but I knew I had found something special upon exiting them.
Let’s start off by introducing the fathers of Litreacha. Em Egan Reeve is a poet and writer hailing from West Cork, now based in Cork City. His work has appeared in publications such as SWERVE, Smashing Times Newsletter, and Good Day Cork, and is a regular presence at local open mic nights. Follow @eganreeve on Instagram to keep up with Em.
Em Egan Reeve 2024, photo by Ciara Foran
Louis Egan McCutcheon is a young queer poet and writer from Bandon, now residing in Cork City. Louis frequently performs at other open mics, including The Underground Loft and Ó Bhéal. His poetry explores themes of language, youth, the inner child, and his identity as a queer man. Published in UCC Quarryman and Chaos and Flowers, Louis is currently working on his debut full-length poetry collection. Follow him on Instagram at @louisilly3 or his poetry account @blue_hme to stay in the know with his work.
Louis Egan McCutcheon 2024, photo by Ciara Foran
The seeds of Litreacha were planted in early 2023 when Em and Louis began frequenting events like The Underground Loft, hosted bi-monthly on Tuesdays at The Liberty bar by Ciaran Shanahan, a multidisciplinary artist whose work delves into themes of mental health and human relationships by embodying personas during performances to confront pain and frustration. The pair were also inspired by the community efforts of Sling Slang, a spoken word event held at Maureen’s on the third Wednesday of each month, and Ó Bhéal, an open mic famous for its 15 minute poem challenge hosted on the second Monday of each month at Long Valley Bar.
Ciaran Shanahan 2024, photo by Ciara Foran
Initially conceived as a queer poetry night, Litreacha soon blossomed into an inclusive, open-format arts event that welcomes musicians, writers, visual artists, and performers of all kinds. ‘That’s in the spirit of queerness as well,’ Louis explained. ‘We don’t want to exclude anyone.’ This commitment to inclusivity has shaped Litreacha into a vibrant, collaborative environment where diverse voices can flourish.
Em and Louis emphasised the crucial role music plays in shaping the Litreacha experience, and this combination of music and performance has impacted not just the event, but the creators themselves. When asked how Litreacha has changed his writing, Em revealed that he’s incorporating more musicality into his work. His poem “The Actual Events That Cause a Turmoil”, for instance, includes a portion designed to be sung.
Pebbledash x Litreacha 2024, photo by Ciara Foran
Collaborative events like Litreacha x Pebbledash at Plugd Records on November 2 exemplified Litreacha’s devotion to music and collaboration, as this event showcased a mix of poets and the local banshee rock band, Pebbledash. The tight venue meant the audience and performers stood close together, which brought about easy conversation and a level of open-heartedness that is rare to experience in our digitally-focused and isolated world.
While Plugd is a smaller venue that facilitates intimacy, Em and Louis have been able to recreate that effect in the larger space that Nudes Craft and Cocktail bar provides. Accessibility was a key factor in selecting Nudes as the venue for Litreacha. Em noticed that most open mics in the city were held in upstairs sections of bars, which posed challenges for attendees with disabilities. While the second-floor bathroom at Nudes remains a limitation, hosting Litreacha on the ground floor ensures that the event is accessible to all. The venue itself is both spacious and inviting, offering a variety of seating options, including bar stools, chairs, and couches. Nudes’ warm, low-toned lighting creates an intimate atmosphere reminiscent of sitting around a campfire, but with all the comforts of being indoors: air conditioning, heating, and twenty-first century plumbing.
Although it primarily serves as a platform for queer creatives to perform, straight allies are warmly welcomed to enjoy the space and support their peers. This commitment to uplifting voices in the LGBTQIA+ community has fuelled the event’s rapid growth in popularity in a short time. It’s common for the venue to fill up as early as half an hour before the event begins, with attendees sharing seats, sitting on the floor, or even peering through windows to catch the performances in the packed bar.
Em and Louis themselves perform at every Litreacha event, adding their personal touch to each gathering they facilitate. For Louis, Litreacha has been transformative. As a relatively new writer, he credits the event with helping him develop his craft. ‘It’s given me a way to build and structure my practice, find what I’m interested in, and the way that I like to work,’ he said. Em commented that he is proud to have created a space in which he and other trans creatives can share their work openly. ‘A lot of the time, it can be really scary as a trans person to read stuff and talk about trans issues because no one gets it. You’re always seen as a spectacle other than anything else, so it’s really good to be able to read something without having to explain what it means. At least half the room [at Litreacha] are going to get it,’ Em said, noting the importance of a space where trans voices can be heard without being tokenised.
Inspiring the local artists of Cork City to create monthly works, Litreacha is a themed event, providing a creative anchor for both the performers and the audience. These themes inspire participants to explore fresh ideas and push the boundaries of their artistic expression, resulting in a dynamic range of performances each month. Past themes such as lucky, samhain, and metamorphosis have sparked unique interpretations.
The accompanying monthly playlists are carefully curated by Louis to set the mood and immerse attendees in the theme’s spirit. This collaborative element extends beyond the event itself, as Em and Louis often receive suggestions for future themes from the community, further highlighting Litreacha’s inclusive and participatory nature. The anticipation of discovering the next theme adds an element of excitement to each gathering. “Letters to your lover” is February's theme, so get ready to gush on the 23rd, and stay updated by following Litreacha’s Instagram account to prepare for their ninth event.
Ciaran Shanahan 2024, photo by Ciara Foran
For Louis, the themes are a special part of each month’s event. He treats them as a ‘fun challenge,’ and crafts fresh pieces that align with the theme while listening to the curated playlists for inspiration. The manageable timeframe and the welcoming, experimental nature of the space encourage him to bring something new to each Litreacha. Serving as a creative jumping-off point, the themes invite artists of all backgrounds to step into a playful and stimulating creative process. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or someone dipping their toes into artistic expression for the first time, the thematic structure of Litreacha provides an accessible yet inspiring way to participate in a shared celebration of creativity.
Em also fully embraces this element by basing his outfits on each month’s theme, which amplifies the event’s playful and inclusive spirit. Together, Em and Louis ensure that Litreacha remains not just an open mic but a dynamic and collaborative experience.
Johnathan Stack dressed as Lady Bird (played by Irish actress Saoirse Ronan) for the Samhain-themed night 2024, photo by Ciara Foran
In just a few months, Litreacha has become a cherished space for attendees by fostering a sense of belonging and creativity that keeps people coming back. Claire Watson, a speculative fiction writer, UCC Creative Writing alum, and previous Editor-in-Chief of the Express, reflected on how the event stands out among queer spaces. ‘These days, a lot of LGBT+ spaces are unaccommodating for those who identify outside gender or sexual binaries,’ Claire shared. They recounted the closure of a Cork gay bar that rebranded as a ‘straight bar’ during Freshers’ Week the previous year, a move that sent a clear and disheartening message of exclusion. In contrast, Litreacha offers a rare sense of safety and comfort. ‘Each night that I've attended I've had an incredibly wholesome experience, I've met new people, made friends and felt that I've not had to worry about who I am.’
Claire Watson 2024, photo by Ciara Foran
Accessibility is another aspect Claire appreciates. As a free event, Litreacha values its queer attendees for more than just economic contributions. ‘We are valued by the space, and in turn, we value it,’ they said. Claire has read at every Litreacha they’ve attended and described the experience as both nerve-wracking and deeply rewarding. ‘I’ve always felt listened to, respected, and celebrated,’ they added.
Mia Tobin Power 2024, photo by Ciara Foran
For Mia Tobin Power, Cork City’s resident Substacker (@streetsandsodiumlights), Litreacha is meaningful because it’s not just a queer space in name but in practice. ‘It’s so important to have a space like this, where you know you’re among your own people,’ she explained. She praised the welcoming and intentional environment, where attendees are united by a love of literature, music, and mutual support. Mia finds it particularly moving when first-time performers step onto the stage. ‘Everyone will immediately applaud and voice their support for that person. I don’t think there could be a more supportive open mic environment.’ Although Mia has only read once, she found the experience surprisingly comforting, buoyed by the encouragement of friends and the attentive audience.
Lucie Perreira 2024, photo by Ciara Foran
Lucie Perreira, a poet and student in UCC’s Creative Writing MA program from the United States, echoed the sentiments about Litreacha’s inclusivity and warmth. ‘The welcoming and inclusive community, the talent of the performers, the gorgeous queer poetry, and the yummy cocktails at Nude’s all keep me coming back,’ she said. Having experienced Litreacha both as a reader and a listener, Lucie emphasised the unique privilege of witnessing incredible talent early in its journey. ‘As a listener, I felt like I had the rare chance to witness some incredible talent right before they become wildly famous.’
Paolo Bicchieri 2024, photo by Ciara Foran
For Paolo Bicchieri, a San Francisco-based poet and writer for Eater Magazine, Litreacha’s quality is a major draw. Despite its open-mic format, he noted that the calibre of readings and performances rivals that of established venues. ‘I always see new talent that is as good as any I’ve seen anywhere, and it’s for free at a bar on the Lee,’ he remarked. Paolo described reading at Litreacha as less nerve-wracking than expected, thanks to the attentive and supportive crowd. ‘It’s like the best college open mic you’ve been to, with people you’d like your writing to be more like,’ he added.
Collaboration is woven into every aspect of Litreacha’s ethos, not just when it comes to performances. For example, Ciara Foran’s evocative photography of the events and Johnathan Stack’s striking poster designs promoting them demonstrate that every element of Litreacha reflects a deep spirit of community and creativity.
As Litreacha continues to grow, Em and Louis have ambitious plans for its future. On January 10th, their writers' group, AIBÍTIR, had its initial meeting, for example. They hope to expand its offerings by creating a book club and hosting film screenings. They’re already involved in initiatives like Cork’s Solace Festival and the Queer Nature Collective, where they’re contributing their creative energy to larger projects. Future goals include launching a pamphlet or zine, creating a full-fledged publication or journal within the next year, and possibly hosting their own festival. They’re even considering creating merchandise and partnering with the Trans Film Club for events.
When asked if they expected such a high level of success, Em and Louis shared that they knew the queer community in Cork was looking for a space like Litreacha, they just had to provide it. And right they were, as Litreacha has created a space where attendees feel safe and welcome to bring their artistry, regardless of experience or background. ‘I think because it’s such a community-driven safe space, people are allowed to be vulnerable and confessional and just say whatever they want,’ Louis explained. ‘Even if they’re nervous, they still work through it and do their best. I’m always bringing stuff, no matter what.’
Litreacha’s inclusive and experimental spirit is perfectly encapsulated in its unofficial tagline: ‘Raw, dizzy, goofy,’ which came about when I asked the pair for three words to describe their project. Its official motto, ‘Queerness is creative. Creativity is queer,’ serves as both a guiding principle and an open invitation to all who wish to be part of its ever-expanding community. Whether you’re interested in video production, photography, or design, Em and Louis encourage anyone who feels inspired to get involved. Stay tuned for the next events on Instagram, to watch how Litreacha leads the way for queer creatives to rep their letters.