Ireland has been good for gay vacations at least since the time of Oscar Wilde, although in those days it was not necessarily a friendly country for the LGBT community. Like Wilde, many people were jailed or sent away for hard labor for what was legally termed "indecency" and, until 1861, acts of sodomy were even punishable by death, but Ireland has come a long way since these dark days, decriminalizing same-sex sexual behavior in 1993 and legalizing civil unions in 2009.
While this may not necessarily mean that every rural village - or even every metropolitan area - in this largely Catholic country now fully embraces same-sex relationships, Ireland has become a much more accepting, welcoming country as a whole and is a truly remarkable choice for gay travel. Most of Ireland's larger cities, including Cork, Dublin, Galway and Waterford, now have a thriving community, establishments that are LGBT-friendly or LGBT-owned, annual community celebrations and a plethora of attractions that could easily fill your whole vacation; however, you also will not want to miss visiting the Irish countryside and exploring quaint villages sitting at the top of breathtaking cliffs along the coast.
While several larger cities now have annual community celebrations, pubs and clubs, community organizations and a visible LGBT scene, Dublin is unquestionably the center of LGBT life in Ireland and should be part of any gay travel plans to this country. Dublin nightlife offers both a casual pub scene and an upscale club scene complete with dress codes, which allows those on gay vacations to experience two very different aspects of local LGBT life. There are also a number of community festivals that take place throughout the year, including the Dublin International LGBTQ Pride Festival in June, the Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in July and the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in May.
There is always something going on in Dublin, on either a small or large scale, so it is a good idea to pick up a copy of GNC, Ireland's main community magazine, when you arrive in town. There are many must-see attractions when partaking in gay travel in Dublin, including the Guinness Storehouse, the Old Jameson Distillery, the Hugh Lane Gallery, the Book of Kells, the Oscar Wilde House Museum and Dublin's quintessential LGBT bar, The George.
Gay tours are an ideal option for those considering gay vacations to Ireland and are a great way to ensure that you do not miss the many cultural, historical and natural attractions this romantic, intriguing country has to offer.
While this may not necessarily mean that every rural village - or even every metropolitan area - in this largely Catholic country now fully embraces same-sex relationships, Ireland has become a much more accepting, welcoming country as a whole and is a truly remarkable choice for gay travel. Most of Ireland's larger cities, including Cork, Dublin, Galway and Waterford, now have a thriving community, establishments that are LGBT-friendly or LGBT-owned, annual community celebrations and a plethora of attractions that could easily fill your whole vacation; however, you also will not want to miss visiting the Irish countryside and exploring quaint villages sitting at the top of breathtaking cliffs along the coast.
While several larger cities now have annual community celebrations, pubs and clubs, community organizations and a visible LGBT scene, Dublin is unquestionably the center of LGBT life in Ireland and should be part of any gay travel plans to this country. Dublin nightlife offers both a casual pub scene and an upscale club scene complete with dress codes, which allows those on gay vacations to experience two very different aspects of local LGBT life. There are also a number of community festivals that take place throughout the year, including the Dublin International LGBTQ Pride Festival in June, the Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in July and the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in May.
There is always something going on in Dublin, on either a small or large scale, so it is a good idea to pick up a copy of GNC, Ireland's main community magazine, when you arrive in town. There are many must-see attractions when partaking in gay travel in Dublin, including the Guinness Storehouse, the Old Jameson Distillery, the Hugh Lane Gallery, the Book of Kells, the Oscar Wilde House Museum and Dublin's quintessential LGBT bar, The George.
Gay tours are an ideal option for those considering gay vacations to Ireland and are a great way to ensure that you do not miss the many cultural, historical and natural attractions this romantic, intriguing country has to offer.
About the Author:
Gay travel to Ireland pointers about Ireland from author Howie Holben. He is the the force behind Spirit Journeys, a gay travel company. Spirit Journeys makes available gay tours throughout the world.
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