Finding Queer Community in Dublin

Words and photos by Aspen Lee, who studied abroad with ASA in Dublin, Ireland, during the spring semester of 2025. 

In honor of Pride Month, here’s a shout-out to some of the queer spaces I found in Dublin and elsewhere during my study abroad semester.

First off, a classic beacon of queer community is the gay bar. I visited The George in Dublin during my time there, but other Dublin gay bars include Pantibar and Street 66, and Fibber Magee’s often hosts drag nights. If you’re not into bar spaces, there are also other queer spaces like The Outhouse, a coffee shop and queer event location which hosts numerous mixers and other events throughout the week, targeted especially for people with specific identities within the LGBTQ+ community. It’s one of my biggest regrets that I didn’t make it into town for one of their events. Additionally, Queer Hawk Barber Shop hosts some events and is the perfect spot for a haircut as well. I performed in an open mic night there, hosted by Dykeish Productions, a queer-founded arts event organization. I felt embraced by a diverse queer community while I performed songs by The Cranberries and Gigi Perez, and I even met somebody else studying abroad for her master’s degree and also befriended the founder of Dykeish.

The George and Fibber Magee’s were some of the most enjoyable places for me. At The George, there was an undeniable energy with multiple dancefloors full of people and a great DJ. The place also has an excellent vibe, with a moody dimness broken up by beams of colored light. It’s great for dancing and potentially meeting other members of the LGBTQ+ community. Similar to Fibber Magee’s, I befriended the photographer and some other study abroad students at the David Bowie-themed drag show I attended with some friends who happened to be studying from our hometown as well.

I also spent time in Barcelona, where I visited a lesbian bar called Carita Bonita and a gay bar called Candy Darling. Lesbian bars are rare to come across anywhere, so it was especially comforting to be able to spend time in that space while abroad, because I’d never had a chance to in the States. Carita Bonita is a cozier establishment, more of a space to relax with friends rather than dance, while Candy Darling was far larger and had a dancier feel.

I was also lucky to find queer friends at my school in Maynooth while in Ireland. I met them through orientation, my housing assignment, and the Goin’ app, which functions sort of like a blend between social media and a dating app as a way to find friends studying at your host school. We had a great time doing things like thrifting in the city, visiting a pasture of cows and singing to them, and having dinner parties.

Unfortunately, I left for the States before any Pride events last year, but if you’re abroad and able to attend, Dublin Pride is June 24th-28th this year, with the parade on the 27th. It’s a massive event and includes several smaller events hosted by clubs and other spaces throughout the city. See below for resources regarding pride and the establishments and organizations mentioned in this post!

Resources:

Dublin Pride

The Outhouse IG

Dykish Productions IG

Fibber Magee’s IG

For more on queer venues and events in Dublin, check out Aspen's post on ASA's TikTok!

Thanks, Aspen!