16 August 2026
By Bryan McCarthy
bryan@TheCork.ie
Cork is set to make history when it becomes the first city in the world outside the United States of America to host the original Gilbert Baker Rainbow Flag which has become the global symbol of LGBTI+ pride, visibility, inclusion and equality.
Cork City Council will welcome a delegation from San Francisco next week, who are loaning this extraordinary piece of social and cultural history to Cork Public Museum for public display for four months.
The large fragment of the original Pride flag was donated to the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco in 2021 but this is the first time that the artefact will ever be loaned and exhibited outside the US.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Damian Boylan, said he is looking forward to the historic moment.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Damian Boylan
“The Gilbert Baker Flag visit provides a unique opportunity to deepen relationships between Cork and San Francisco while showcasing Cork’s commitment to equality, inclusion and community engagement,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Through the range of civic events, activities and networking events planned around the flag’s arrival, the programme will celebrate the achievements of LGBTI+ communities while acknowledging the ongoing work required to create safe, inclusive and welcoming spaces for all – and Cork City, and indeed Cork City Council’s proud role in that work for decades.”
Chief Executive of Cork City Council, Valerie O’Sullivan, said:
“It is a tremendous honour for Cork to become the first city outside the United States to host the original Gilbert Baker Rainbow Flag. This historic visit reflects Cork’s long-standing commitment to equality, inclusion and human rights, and highlights the strong and enduring relationship between Cork and San Francisco.”
GLBT Historical Society Executive Director, Roberto Ordeñana, said: “As stewards of the original Rainbow Flag, created in 1978, we are entrusted with preserving its history and increasing greater awareness of its legacy.
“The Rainbow flag’s importance extends far beyond any one museum, city, or nation—our shared history belongs to all of us, regardless of borders.
“This international collaboration reaffirms our commitment to keeping LGBTQ+ history visible and accessible to all and sharing global solidarity during a moment when the most vulnerable among our LGBTQ community face increased attacks and erasure all around the world.”
The visit has been supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs, through Ireland’s Consulate in San Francisco.
Micheál Smith, Consul General San Francisco, said: “The story of modern Ireland is, in many ways, the story of becoming a more open, confident and inclusive society.
“San Francisco has long stood as a beacon.
“Cork and San Francisco are connected not only by history, migration and commerce, but by a shared belief that every person should be free to live authentically and with dignity.
“The transfer of the original Gilbert Baker Rainbow Flag is a powerful symbol of that connection.”
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond T.D. said:
“Initiatives such as this demonstrate the bonds of friendship between Ireland and the US and our LGBTQ+ communities and helps to strengthen our ties.”
“The iconic LGBTQ+ flag carries profound cultural significance, history and is a symbol of inclusion, pride and togetherness.”
“Over the past 25 years, there has been great progress in terms of equality for LGBTQ+ communities, unfortunately that progress is under attack and too many are seeking to row back the many hard won gains. This is despite the fact that there’s actually far more to be done in terms of achieve of equality.
“For this and many other reasons I strongly welcome the temporary loan of the Gilbert Baker Rainbow Flag from the GLBT Historical Society to Cork Public Museum for exhibition in Cork.”
The visit reflects the longstanding twinning relationship between Cork and San Francisco, which dates from 1984.
A week-long programme of events has been organised across Cork City from August 17 to 24 to celebrate the flag’s arrival, and LGBTI+ heritage, inclusion and community development.
The San Francisco delegates will meet representatives from Cork’s vibrant LGBTI+ community through a series of visits organised by the Cork LGBTI+ Interagency Group. Participating organisations will include The Gay Project, LINQ Ireland, Sexual Health Centre and The Gender Rebels, providing an opportunity to showcase the range of services and advocacy work taking place across Cork. Visits to the historic English Market and City Hall are also planned.
Among the highlights will be an official Lord Mayor’s Reception on August 20 to formally welcome the delegation to Cork, where the Lord Mayor will recognise the significance of the Gilbert Baker Flag visit, the enduring relationship between Cork and San Francisco, and the contribution of LGBTI+ heritage organisations in preserving and sharing community history.
Delegates will also visit the Rainbow Cities Network International Photography Exhibition, Bi+ Visibility and Pride, at Cork City Library. The exhibition highlights the experiences, resilience and diversity of bisexual people and examines the importance of visibility and inclusion within the wider LGBTI+ movement.
The same day, a public panel discussion entitled “The Gilbert Baker Flag: Safety and the LGBTI+ Community” will bring together representatives and active members of Cork’s LGBTI+ community to examine contemporary challenges and opportunities facing the community today.
Discussion topics will include the role of visibility in promoting equality and inclusion, contemporary challenges facing LGBTI+ communities, building safer and more inclusive communities, and the importance of preserving and sharing LGBTI+ history and heritage. The discussion will be followed by a networking reception.
Among the other highlights of the programme will be a literary evening with acclaimed Irish poet and writer Rosamund Taylor, one of Ireland’s leading contemporary LGBTQ+ literary voices, who through readings and discussion, will explore themes of queer identity, belonging, love, community and self-discovery.
The flag’s arrival in Cork coincides with the opening of Cork City Museum’s first permanent LGBTI+ archive exhibition, which includes material spanning more than four decades of the history of the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
Many of Ireland’s firsts of Irish LGBT history happened in Cork, including the first National Gay Conference (1981), the first motion passed by a Trade Union supporting LGBT workers’ rights (1982), the publication of the first Irish AIDS leaflet (1984), the first LGBT Film Festival (1991), and the first LGBT float in a St Patrick’s Day Parade anywhere in the world (1992).