Female DJs in Northern Ireland Speak Out Against Misogyny and Harassment in Nightlife
Anna McAteer, Andrea Shearer, and Julie Dunne have shared their experiences of misogyny, harassment, and intimidation while working as DJs in Northern Ireland. Shearer mentioned receiving harassment on Facebook, pointing out that women are often perceived as guests rather than professionals. Earlier this year, a man from Belfast falsely accused her of exchanging sexual favors for gigs. McAteer described instances of men tampering with her equipment, including one incident where a man rewound her deck. After a confrontational experience over a song request, Dunne decided to stop DJing in bars. Despite these challenges, they do not hold venues responsible, which have provided support. Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, stressed a zero-tolerance stance on misogynistic conduct, while the DJs identified societal attitudes as the core problem.
Key facts
- Andrea Shearer was harassed by a man on Facebook who called her a poor DJ and falsely claimed she performed sexual favors for bookings.
- Anna McAteer, an up-and-coming Belfast DJ, has experienced four incidents in about a year where men interfered with her sets, including one who scrolled through her USB of music.
- Julie Dunne stopped DJing in bars after a man screamed and swore at her during a Christmas gig, calling her pathetic and terrible at her job.
- The DJs said the problem reflects wider societal attitudes toward women in nightlife, not the fault of venues or promoters.
- Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, said the industry takes a zero-tolerance approach to misogynistic behavior and highlighted the Ask for Angela initiative.
- McAteer has played at venues across Northern Ireland, including AVA Festival.
- Dunne believes the issue extends to female photographers, lighting technicians, and bar workers.
- The article was published on 11 September 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Andrea Shearer
- Anna McAteer
- Julie Dunne
- Colin Neill
- Annie Mac
Institutions
- Hospitality Ulster
- AVA Festival
- Ending Violence Against Women and Girls team at Stormont
- Ask for Angela
- BBC
Locations
- Belfast
- Northern Ireland
- Stormont