The month of May in 2015 saw Ireland become the first country in the world to legalise same sex marriage via popular vote. While this may seem like a big step forward for the country, it is an event to be taken with a pinch of salt. LGBT+ people throughout the country were forced to endure a referendum which questioned their basic human right to marriage, and while it is wonderful that it passed, it was still a troubling time for many. Ireland has become much more open to those who identify anywhere in the LGBT+ cosmos, but some people and places are not as welcoming and open as others. Generally, Ireland, and Dublin in particular, is an okay place to be who you are. However, this is still an overwhelmingly Catholic and “old-fashioned” country. While times are definitely changing, we recommend that you still look after yourself, as not everywhere or everyone is going to be as understanding as others.
Ireland's Gay Scene
As is the case in many countries, our LGBT+ scene is mostly concentrated in our biggest city, Dublin. Here is your guide to the various places and club nights that are on that cater to those who identify as LGBT+.
DUBLIN
PrHomo
PrHomo @ The Hub in Temple Bar is home to Ireland’s only student gay night! Hosted by the fierce drag queen Pixie Woo, and her sidekicks Mizza and Chanel, PrHomo is fun, cheap, and just trashy enough that you feel a little bit cool even being there. Open from 11pm on Thursday nights, PrHomo runs a different themed event every week. Their Facebook page provides options to get on the cheaplist or freelist for their events, with different competitions most weeks. PrHomo is €7 in, or €5 with a student card, and they have some of the best drinks deals around, with €2 vodka dash before midnight (€4 after), €2 shots of tequila and Sambuca, €3 cans, and €7 vodka doubles! Those who frequent PrHomo generally range in age from 18-25, and the music has all the current chart toppers, as well as some cheesy classic hits thrown in for good measure. Guaranteed to be a night you won’t forget!
Check out PrHomo's Facebook page here!
Check out PrHomo's Facebook page here!
The George
The George is a pub and nightclub on George’s Street in Dublin. It holds the title of Ireland’s oldest gay bar, and always has something going on. It’s a must for anyone looking for a good, gay old time. But don’t just take our word for it, I think they say it best: “The George is not just any bar or any gay bar. It is the first port of call for young gay people in Ireland, it is the venue where gay and straight people mix together and where international visitors stop to check out the gay scene in Ireland. The George has been the lynchpin that holds Dublin's gay scene together. Having been around for 30 years it has been a home to the development of the social evolution of gay Ireland.”
The George has something different on every night, with a plethora of drag queens and kings of different styles, genres, ages, and performances.
Mondays: Win, Lose or Drag with Phil T. Gorgeous and Bunny! Free in all night.
Tuesdays: The Dolly Grip Experience with Dolly and The Grippettes. Free in all night.
Wednesdays: Space N’ Veda, with queen Veda and her witchy guests, Angelinna Lovelace, Regina George, Pixie Woo, and more! Free in all night.
Thursdays: Thursty Thursdays with Davina Devine. Free in all night.
Fridays: Glitter Bomb! Add some sparkle to your night. Free in before 10pm, €5 before midnight, €8 after midnight.
Saturdays: Saturgays and karaoke with Veda and Davina! Free in before 10pm, €10 after.
Sundays: Bingo with Shirley Temple Bar. Free in before 10pm, €5 after.
Open from 2pm – 3am, The George plays pop hits, club classics, and gay anthems. Those who attend The George range in age from 18 – 50+, it really is something for everyone. You won’t be disappointed.
You can check out The G's website here or their Facebook page here!
The George has something different on every night, with a plethora of drag queens and kings of different styles, genres, ages, and performances.
Mondays: Win, Lose or Drag with Phil T. Gorgeous and Bunny! Free in all night.
Tuesdays: The Dolly Grip Experience with Dolly and The Grippettes. Free in all night.
Wednesdays: Space N’ Veda, with queen Veda and her witchy guests, Angelinna Lovelace, Regina George, Pixie Woo, and more! Free in all night.
Thursdays: Thursty Thursdays with Davina Devine. Free in all night.
Fridays: Glitter Bomb! Add some sparkle to your night. Free in before 10pm, €5 before midnight, €8 after midnight.
Saturdays: Saturgays and karaoke with Veda and Davina! Free in before 10pm, €10 after.
Sundays: Bingo with Shirley Temple Bar. Free in before 10pm, €5 after.
Open from 2pm – 3am, The George plays pop hits, club classics, and gay anthems. Those who attend The George range in age from 18 – 50+, it really is something for everyone. You won’t be disappointed.
You can check out The G's website here or their Facebook page here!
Panti Bar
Panti Bar on Capel Street is the home of “the Queen of Ireland”, drag queen Miss Panti Bliss. Open every night, Pantibar is a place for great cocktails, date nights, and a general good time. Pantibar is open 4pm – 12am, Monday – Thursday, 4pm – 1am Friday and Saturday, and 4pm – 11pm on Sundays. Most nights there is a chill vibe with music playing and a good city bar atmosphere. Once the weekend rolls round, things get a little bit more exciting, with DJs on Friday nights, and our national treasure Panti herself on Saturdays with her dragged up Panti Liners, and on Sundays for Shenanigans with Panti and Dizzy.
Also on Saturdays and Sundays, Panti Bar now opens its doors from 4.30 – 6pm for free HIV testing for MSM (men who have sex with men) with a result in 60 seconds, so you can’t say The Queen of Ireland is not deserving of her title.
Panti Bar caters to a slightly more mature crowd, but all are welcome.
Panti Bar's website can be found here or you can check out the Queen's bar and personal Facebook page here!
Also on Saturdays and Sundays, Panti Bar now opens its doors from 4.30 – 6pm for free HIV testing for MSM (men who have sex with men) with a result in 60 seconds, so you can’t say The Queen of Ireland is not deserving of her title.
Panti Bar caters to a slightly more mature crowd, but all are welcome.
Panti Bar's website can be found here or you can check out the Queen's bar and personal Facebook page here!
The Front Lounge
The Front Lounge is a friendly, upscale bar on Parliament Street in Dublin. They provide great cocktails using only the finest and freshest ingredients, and comfy sofas for you to “lounge” to your heart’s content. Laid back during the week, and then with DJs on Friday and Saturday nights, The Front Lounge is a place to relax and let your hair down while their expert staff take care of you at the bar. Catering to a more mature crowd, the age range of The Front Lounge is generally 21+.
The "Flounge" website is here or you can see the Facebook page here.
The "Flounge" website is here or you can see the Facebook page here.
Mother Club
Also held in The Hub, Mother is a far cry from PrHomo student night. Self-proclaimed best Saturday night gay club in Dublin, Mother “takes it back to basics, with a retro and modern synth-pop dance floor fusion”. The Mother DJs are top-class, playing sets at Electric Picnic and supporting acts in Dublin regularly. Mother also plays host to Le Galaxie on a regular basis, as well as guest DJs and acts like Scissor Sisters Ana Matronic, Daithí, and Peaches. Expect music from the likes of Grace Jones and Beth Ditto to Eurythmics and Talking Heads and Madonna. Strictly over 21s, Mother is on Saturday nights from 11pm.
Mother's Facebook page can be found here
Mother's Facebook page can be found here
Outside Dublin
Belfast: The Kremlin
Cork: Chambers Nightclub
Galway: Nova Cocktail Bar
Limerick: Strokers Gay Club
Cork: Chambers Nightclub
Galway: Nova Cocktail Bar
Limerick: Strokers Gay Club