Vacation Rates

The intriguing country of Ireland has been a popular gay vacations since the days when Oscar Wilde called this nation home. Of course, during his time Ireland was not as welcoming and accepting of LGBT folks and many, including Wilde, were jailed or sent off to hard labor camps for what was then termed “indecency.” Sadly, up until 1861, death was considered an acceptable punishment for acts of sodomy, but today Ireland has moved well beyond these dark days and has recently bested the U.S. when it comes to LGBT rights by legalizing same-sex civil unions in 2009, after decriminalizing same-sex behaviors in 1993.

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 countryside or the quaint, small villages that are scattered about the landscape or overlooking awe-inspiring coastal cliffs.  Read more...