Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Dublin's planned new 'Rainbow Walks' could be in place by next summer

The walkways would mark spots of significance to the LGBT community and could help boost tourism.

BACKERS OF A PLAN to place ‘Rainbow Walks’ at a number of Dublin city centre junctions say they hope the project gets the green light in time to mark the first anniversary of the same-sex marriage referendum next May.

Similar pedestrian walkways can be found in locations of significance to the LGBT community around the world – at junctions in the Castro District in San Francisco, for instance, and in Sydney, Australia.

george Artist's impression of one of the planned new walkways. Dublin Rainbow Walk Dublin Rainbow Walk

The project could also help bolster the city’s image as a destination for LGBT tourists, according to campaigners.

“Following the successful passing of the Marriage Equality referendum, Ireland and especially Dublin is now seen as a beacon of hope around the world for many LGBT people who come from places less than welcoming to their gay citizens,” Dale McDermott, who’s heading up the proposal, said in a Facebook post. 

“The LGBT community has been welcomed with open arms by the people of Ireland and I feel that this would further bolster the support for LGBT people across Dublin City and the world.”

The walks would be installed at locations that ”have significant meaning to the LGBT community in Dublin”. The proposed sites are at:

1. The junction of George’s Street and Dame Street – close to the city’s most famous LGBT bar ‘The George’. 

w3

2. On Capel Street – across from PantiBar

w2

3. At the Parliament Street and Dame Street junction (close to the courtyard in Dublin Castle – where the referendum result was greeted). 

w1

“Having seen these already in the Castro District in San Francisco and how much of a tourist attraction they are, I really feel that Dublin could seriously benefit from such a simple yet important and colourful touch to our beautiful city,” McDermott wrote.

“Cities all over the world, from Tel Aviv to Sydney, have installed rainbow-coloured pedestrian crossings and given the fact that Dublin is now viewed as a prime location for gay people, this will send a further signal that Dublin is welcoming to LGBT all over the world.”

“This would be good for tourism, good for culture and good for business.”

Fine Gael councillor Noel Rock has proposed the motion to Dublin City Council and expects it to be heard early next year.

He said he hoped the walkways would be in place before 23 May next, and said a number of tech multinationals had expressed an interest in funding them. The cost, at any rate, would be “minimal,” he said tonight.

What do you make of the walkways? 


Poll Results:

Good idea. (2973)
Bad idea. (2016)
No interest. (1119)

You can read more about the proposals here

Read: A woman sprinkled holy water to ‘cleanse her yard’ after Yes campaigners’ visit

Read: Same-sex marriage bill passed (then blocked) in Northern Ireland

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
115 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute BlueSkyThinking
    Favourite BlueSkyThinking
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 10:00 AM

    This is a huge story, there were 70 gas related incidents across two large residential areas of Boston, nearly 150,000 people were requested to evacuate their homes.
    I don’t think this article is doing it justice.

    79
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GClare
    Favourite GClare
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 7:59 AM

    So who over pressurised the gas line, the nearest Muslim or the Russian tourists??

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddington C.
    Favourite Paddington C.
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 8:06 AM

    @GClare: sometimes things just go wrong… I love that you guys don’t realise you’re the conspiracy theorists when you say that accusing the Russian “tourists” is a conspiracy.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Linehan
    Favourite Chris Linehan
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 8:34 AM

    @Paddington C.: wooosh

    55
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddington C.
    Favourite Paddington C.
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 8:38 AM

    @Chris Linehan: I don’t think it’s a case of “whoosh” but I could be wrong.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Hughes
    Favourite Brendan Hughes
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 10:08 AM

    @Paddington C.: double whoosh

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute chinaski
    Favourite chinaski
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 8:18 AM

    Sorry to be a a grammar Nazi, but “too blame”? Sigh.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bingobango
    Favourite Bingobango
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 1:26 PM

    @chinaski: “Sorry to be a a grammar Nazi”???

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Walsh
    Favourite Dave Walsh
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 8:16 AM

    Could it be the cost of deregulation?

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Irish Political GIF
    Favourite Irish Political GIF
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 9:48 AM

    You do have to giggle at the anti wind farm lobby using natural gas funded studies to pretend ficticious vibrations are melting their brain. Meanwhile in Boston….

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steve B
    Favourite Steve B
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 12:10 PM

    I wouldn’t discount Chinese hackers doing a proof-of-concept test. This is exactly the type of chaos that can be caused in a cyber war.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Pom
    Favourite Mark Pom
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 9:46 AM

    Leeks made from gas…. no wonder there were explosions

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Favourite Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 1:21 PM

    @Mark Pom: The Welsh will be pleased with the reference to leeks!!

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86
    Favourite Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 8:04 AM

    @GClare that could of been a gas leek and everyone tried to cook at the same time

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Tierney
    Favourite John Tierney
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 1:05 PM

    Putin at it again!

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds