Cork - Guide for Gays, Lesbians and Queers

Cork has no dedicated gay bar, sauna or queer café. The city has lost its two best-known gay pubs: Loafers on Douglas Street and later Chambers on Washington Street, which closed after a controversial rebrand.

The main point of contact is the Gay Project at 10/10A High Street. This charity has worked for decades with gay, bisexual and trans men and the wider queer community. It runs community and social groups, the WellGBT+ hub for health questions, training, and a directory of support services. The team can be reached by phone and email, including by visitors who want to get their bearings before they arrive.

For women, Cork long had LINC, a centre for lesbian and bisexual women on White Street. The history of LINC and other groups is documented by the Cork LGBT Archive, which collects photos, flyers and oral history from the city and makes them available online.

In summer Cork Pride brings the community into the city centre. The volunteer-run festival week ends over the long weekend around the first Monday in August with the parade from Grand Parade. During the rest of the year queer nights take place in changing, mixed venues. The Gay Project's calendar is the most reliable way to find out what is on. Anyone looking for a wider choice of bars and clubs should head to Dublin.