LGBT Life in Ireland

Ireland tour packages have been a popular destination 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 these significant legal strides might not mean that every village - or even every larger city - is ready to fully embrace same-sex relationships, Ireland has become a rather welcoming country for the most part and is a wonderful choice for gay travel. Many larger cities, such as Galway, Dublin, Cork and Waterford, have active, visible communities, LGBT-owned and LGBT-friendly establishments, and enough attractions and activities to fill an entire trip; however, whether you travel to Ireland solo or with organized gay tours, you will not want to miss the beautiful Irish tour package countryside or the quaint, small villages that are scattered about the landscape or overlooking awe-inspiring coastal cliffs.

While several larger cities now have annual community celebrations, pubs and clubs, community organizations and a visible LGBT scene, Dublin tour packages are 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.