Every June, rainbows unfurl across Irish streets in celebration of inclusion, community and vital representation in an era where human rights remain fraught. For LGBTQ+ people, Pride is not just a month - it's a lived experience and a journey of solidarity, and visibility that spans a lifetime.
Thankfully, across the island of Ireland, queer-friendly spaces, hobbies, and social groups are waiting with open arms for new members to join.
Whether you're looking for meaningful connection with new people, an outlet for creativity, or a good sprint on the rugby pitch, Ireland is home to an incredible variety of LGBTQ+ activity groups that affirm and uplift.
Here’s your guide to some of our favourites to join across the country this Pride month - and hopefully far beyond.
(Sissy That) Walk into Hidden Histories
Start your Pride celebrations with a walk through Dublin's past - but from a perspective you may not have learned in school. The Secret History of Gay Dublin walking tour is a powerful, enlightening way to view the city through its queer lens.
Starting at the Oscar Wilde statue in Merrion Square and finishing at Dublin Castle, the tour explores the lives and legacies of artists, revolutionaries, villains, and heroes - all of whom shaped Irish history, often from the margins. Your guide shares stories of same-sex love, hidden lives, and hard-fought freedoms, all while guiding you through some of Dublin’s most iconic and beautiful sites.
This tour is inclusive and open to everyone - whether you're queer, questioning, or simply curious. It’s an essential reminder that LGBTQ+ people have always been here and always will be. More info and tickets click here.
Play with Pride
Gone are the days when queer folk were pushed to the sidelines in sports. Today, inclusive teams and clubs across Ireland are thriving - welcoming athletes of all experience levels who want to compete, or just have fun.
Given the vitriol often aimed by some groups at the trans community in regard to sports, it’s more important than ever to make sure there is a mindful place for all to play. Check out Sporting Pride for a comprehensive list of LGBTQ+ sports clubs nationwide. We’re big fans of:
- Na Gaeil Aeracha (Dublin): the world's first explicitly LGBTQ+ inclusive GAA team, founded in 2020, and offering camogie, hurling and GAA football.
- Phoenix Tigers FC: a friendly LGBT+ women, trans and non-binary social football team, running for 20 years and based in Dublin.
- Emerald Warriors (Dublin): An inclusive rugby club formed in 2003 that includes mens+ rugby, womens+ rugby and mixed tag rugby, and is open to people of all genders.
- Frontrunners Cork: LGBTQ+ running and brisk-walking club with Couch to 5K options that began back in 2018.
- Pink Ladies Hockey Club (Dublin): LGBTQ+ social sports group with a diverse collective of women, founded in 2011.
- Cork Hellhounds RFC: Inclusive rugby club for all genders and sexualities.
- Cork Rebels FC: LGBTQ+ non-profit club with a 'football for all’ ethos since 2018.
- Out and About Dublin: Hiking group with monthly Sunday walks, Thursday evening hikes and Wednesday walks.
- Wet & Wild: LGBTQ+ outdoor pursuits club that takes place each Tuesday evening during the summer months a sea swim/dip meetup is organised at a variety of locations in the Dublin area.
That’s Showbiz
For those looking to flex their creative muscles, Ireland boasts a vibrant queer arts scene. In Dublin, Acting Out is an LGBTQ+ performance group that runs weekly acting classes and produces stage shows. No experience necessary - just bring your enthusiasm and jazz hands.
Meanwhile, Gloria LGBT Choir (Ireland’s longest-running LGBT choir, established in 1995) and Choral ConFusion in Cork offer performance opportunities in a warm, wholesome environment.
For fiction fanatics, there’s plenty to read and discuss:
- OUT-LIT and the LINC Book Club in Cork.
- Bi+ Ireland and its nationwide community of readers.
- Regular literary meetups at Outhouse Dublin, a central hub for queer community life.
- Midlands LGBT Project’s Crystal Queer book club - hybrid and in person options.
- The Queer Culchie Book Club in Cavan.
Café Culture and Social Circles
Communities often congregate in cafés for a safe, alcohol-free way of meeting people and having conversations. Dublin’s Outhouse is a perfect example that has stood the test of time, offering lovely weekly events for queer people across the LGBTQ+ umbrella:
- Sapphic Socials (Fridays, 5–8pm) for queer women.
- T-Time for trans and non-binary folks (Wednesdays).
- Girls Night In (bi-weekly Mondays, 7pm): movie nights, meditation, and more.
- Dublin Men’s Group and Gay Guys Café.
- GOLD: Peer support group for men aged 55+.
Around the country, similar groups remain active:
- Dining Out Ireland: Formed in April 2002, the club meets for dinners in Dublin city centre restaurants with anywhere between 15 and 30 people in attendance.
- Dublin Gaymers combines queer community with card games and consoles.
- Running Amach (Dublin) and SHEnanigans (Galway) offer social networking for LGBTQ+ women.
- In Cork, the GOLD Café supports older gay men, while Outstaged Drama Group and the Gay Project offer a rich calendar of cultural events.
- Quire Belfast LGBT sings the city’s queer history with impeccable harmonies.
Fountain of Youth (Groups)
Young people discovering and embracing their identities can find solace in dedicated youth services. BeLonG To+ has brilliant resources on the best options, but here are a couple:
- Drogheda LGBT+ Youth Club
- Wexford LGBT Youth Galway
- Dundalk Outcomers
- UP Cork
- Gender Wise Limerick
- AIM Youth Group Dundalk
Each group creates affirming, judgment-free environments for queer youth to express themselves and connect.
In Northern Ireland, services like the Belfast Butterfly Club and Belfast Trans Resource Centre offer vital support to trans and gender non-conforming individuals, while the WOW Group (Wednesday Older Women) offers socials for a specific demographic from bisexual and lesbian community page HERe NI.
Why these spaces matter
Queer-friendly spaces - whether they’re drama classes, football pitches, or intimate cafés - offer something beyond boosting your social battery. They offer safety, affirm identities and provide an escape from potential isolation. For many, these communities are lifelines.
Ireland has made huge strides in LGBTQ+ rights, from marriage equality to gender recognition. Retaining these hard-fought rights often starts in everyday places where people feel seen, heard, and welcomed. Building networks is a key pillar of queer liberation - and we still have a long way to go, particularly in terms of trans healthcare.
This Pride month, go beyond the parade. It’s not only about protests or parties (though that’s a major draw!). It’s about presence.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ.
