Ireland Opens Nation’s First Permanent LGBTQ+ Museum Exhibition

Ireland has opened its first permanent LGBTQ+ museum exhibition at the Cork Public Museum. The exhibition, “We Were Always Here – Cork LGBT History”, was developed in partnership with the Cork LGBT Archive, and includes interactive audio installations, a timeline of LGBTQ+ history in Cork, as well as an extensive physical and digital archive.

Among its physical collection are original documents, artefacts, and the personal belongings of LGBTQ+ people connected to Cork’s queer history, including people and community groups that fought for LGBTQ+ protections up until 1993, when homosexuality was still criminalised.

Why LGBTQ+ Museum Exhibition’s Matter

Orla Egan, exhibition curator and founder of the Cork LGBT Archive, spoke on the importance of having official public records honouring queer history.

“Too often the history of the LGBT community has been invisible, ignored or erased. Having Cork’s LGBTQ history on display in the Cork Public Museum will ensure that it is accessible and cannot be forgotten or ignored. 

“It sends a powerful message of respect and inclusion for a community that too often has experienced prejudice, punishment and exclusion. This is even more important in today’s world when we are witnessing an increase in transphobia and homophobia in the world.” 

Dan Breen, curator of the Cork Public Museum, similarly highlighted the importance of the museum’s first LGBTQ+ collection.

“The exhibition continues Cork’s tradition of firsts in Irish LGBT history,” said Breen. “In 1981, the first National Gay Conference was held in the city while Cork also hosted the first Irish Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in 1991.

“And then less than six months later, in 1992, the city’s St Patrick’s Day parade featured the first LGBTQ float seen at a St Patrick’s Day festival anywhere in the world so now, with this permanent LGBT exhibition, Cork is leading the way again.”

The exhibition adds to a growing list of LGBTQ+ milestones for Cork, including hosting the nation’s first gay conference in 1981, opening Ireland’s longest running gay bar, Loafers Bar, in 1983, and featuring the world’s first LGBTQ+ St. Patrick’s Day float in 1992.