The George

The George has been Ireland's most famous gay bar since it opened on South Great George's Street in 1985, making it the oldest continuously operating gay venue in the country. The pub occupies a prominent corner position and has survived every change in Dublin's social landscape through four decades — the AIDS crisis, the civil partnership debates, the marriage equality referendum and the subsequent shift of the scene to Capel Street — without losing its identity or its clientele. The famous Sunday bingo nights hosted by drag queen Shirley Temple Bar have been running for over 25 years and are among the most beloved events in Dublin's LGBTQ+ calendar: packed, chaotic, warmly funny evenings that draw regulars and first-time visitors alike. The George is not a trendy venue — its decor and atmosphere are those of a well-loved Irish pub — and that is precisely its enduring appeal. It is the first gay bar many Irish LGBTQ+ people ever walked into, and its survival and continued relevance is a piece of living social history.