5 Years of Gay Cork

Written by gaycork. Posted in About, Archive

In 2007 GCN had a small article about the 5th Anniversary of GayCork.com – though in the print edition they said 10 years by accident!

5 Years of Gay Cork

“It has helped open up my own idea of my sexuality. At the beginning I was very closedminded and now I think I’ve dealt with a lot of the internalised homophobia I used to carry about with me by sharing in the experiences, and acknowledging the opinions, of others.”

So says (Little)Timmy, one of the hundreds of members of the forums on gaycork.com, and he’s just one of many people who have found the same kind of self-affirmation from the website, which is an amazing five years old this month.

“There was nothing much on the web for Irish gay people when I set gaycork.com up,” says JP, founder of the incredibly popular site, “and certainly nothing for gay people in Cork!”
“The site hosted the very first gay forums in Ireland and became a template for the way gay websites have developed here afterwards. Gaycork.com was a precurser for the style of a lot of them. Chris Fildes at queerid.com spoke to me extensively before launching that site, and it was originally based on the gaycork.com model.”

In the five years since gaycork.com launched, Jonathan has seen major change in his native city for gay and lesbian people, and he believes the site has been integral to that evolution. “It’s allowed more people to come out and communities to form,” he says. “It’s affected people’s lives; several people have met their partners through gaycork.com. There’s a social life built up around it, we have regular meet-ups. We go to the cinema, for a meal, to the bars.

“It’s the best gay resource for Cork. People who don’t live in the south log on and are amazed by the level of entertainment and things to do for gay people in Cork.

“Currently, you can find a bustling gay classifieds section on gaycork.com, which is probably the second busiest in Ireland, next to Gaire; the forums are very active – people discuss everything there, from politics to celebrity gossip, to the Alternative Miss Ireland. There are regular columns and features and a directory of what’s on in Cork and beyond.” Although Jonathan’s commitment to the site has made it flourish over the years, he’s eager to pay tribute to the work of other people.

“Everyone who works on the site does so voluntarily,” he says, “and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for the work they’ve put in. The site wouldn’t be what it is without them.”

Visit www.gaycork.com for everything you need to know about the queer scene in the People’s Republic of Cork

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In memory of Denis Clifford

Written by gaycork. Posted in About, In Memory

Denis Clifford -whom was one of the original founders of GayCork.com – sadly passed away in June 2008.

Denis was a man of many talents, ranging from graphic design to journalism which proved to be his greatest passion in life.

In 2001, he was of of the founding members of CIT LGB which helped many students come to terms with their sexuality. In 2002 he was instrumental in the setting up of GayCork.com by designing the first version of this website and its logo. He also wrote a few articles, which remain on this website to this day.

After GayCork.com he went on to UCC to study arts and served as the editor of the UCC Express for one year. After that he was a freelance journalist writing many pieces, such as this one for the Irish Times.

The last time I saw Denis was over the pride weekend in June 2008. He was just back from travelling around the world and we had a great time catching up. However little did I know at that time, that  he would be taken away from this world a week later.

Denis, may you rest in peace. x

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Cork Queerdom the Web

Written by gaycork. Posted in About, Archive

In 2002, GCN had an article about the launch of GayCork.com. It was written by Denis Clifford, one of this websites co founders:

Cork Queerdom the Web

Sick to death of gay websites? Cork’s newest website – gaycork.com – promises to break the mould, writes Denis Clifford

When GayCork.com was officially launched in June, opinion was polarised within sections of Cork queerdom. ‘Jesus, they can’t be writin’ about cruisin’ areas and stuff, like’, opined one Leeside mary between slurps of a happy-hour cocktail. His cider-quaffing companion was less distressed: ‘Sure, why not, girl, it goes on all de time, dozenit?’

GayCork.com emerged largely because the needs of Cork’s gay community were not being met by existing websites. In the half-decade prior to 2002, anyone who typed the words ‘gay’ and ‘Cork’ into a search engine form was presented with a slew of links to sites which purported to be nationwide in focus. In reality, their coverage of areas outside Dublin was poor. For example, where sections were devoted to Cork, they typically listed venues which had closed down years before. However, this neglect ignored the increasingly vibrant gay communities that had emerged in regional cities, particularly. Galway and Cork.

Most visitors to the site have been more concerned with whether it’s actually any good or not – and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The site currently receives 70,000 hits per week, a figure which is steadily increasing.

So far, we’ve received much praise for The Talking Head column. The incognito writer responsible discourses upon a diverse range of topics, and his articles generate much discussion. Fabula diBeaumarchais, the ‘First Lady’ of Cork, has also left her indelible mark on proceedings. Through her online journal she injects regular doses of fabulousness into the site, as readily and copiously as her own Botox shots.

But hark! Can you hear the cynic in the corner? :  ‘Another piece of pink fluff, and a provincial one at that – just what the web needs … ‘ Not so fast, girlfriend! We’ve aimed to avoid the worst cliches of the gay website. That means no syndicated ‘lifestyle’ features that few ever read, no rain¬bows,interlocked gender signs or quasi-porn and coverage of pop has been restricted to tolerable levels:  Kylie, yes; H+Caire, no.

Moreover, we’ve endeavoured to make the site genuinely useful. A serious attempt has been made to answer almost any question that might be asked about gay life in Cork. The establishment of a resource that caters for all strands of the queer community has also been a primary concern. We’ve done our best to accommodate marginalised groups, including bisexuals, transsexuals and the closeted. To aid those dealing with issues raised by their sexuality, we’re developing an interactive health and welfare section which will provide information, advice and support.

Rubbing our eyes and wincing at the sunlight, we’ve emerged lately into the real world and begun to work with other Cork-based organisations. In particular, we’ve developed a close working relationship with L.lnc, Cork’s lesbian resource centre. GayCork.com and the L.lnc website (www.linc.ie) are now closely tied, and we collaborate extensively.

So, itching to find out more? Point your browser to www.gaycork.com. Curiosity still not piqued? Well, maybe you’ll be swayed by the recommendation of the aforementioned cider-guzzler: ‘Ah, sure, fair fucks to them, like.’ Was there ever a pithier endorsement?

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