Think of the gayest places in the world. Where springs to mind? Sydney? Brighton? San Francisco? New York, where the modern gay rights movement began in 1969, has to be on the list. Cork? I mean, I love Ireland, but it’s the Emerald Isle, not the rainbow one, and certainly wasn’t riding high in my list of LGBT destinations. That was until last month, when I went for a long weekend of Guinness, Irish whiskey and “the craic”. But instead of old stereotypes, I found a modern, vibrant and politically active queer community which welcomed me with open arms.
My gay education (Geducation? Sure, let’s go with it) begins on the terrace of the newly refurbished Montenotte Hotel (themontenottehotel.com), overlooking the city, where I meet Ms Gay Cork.