Activists hail Cork City Hall for flying the gay flag

The internationally recognised gay flag was flown from an Irish public building for the first time yesterday to mark the start of Cork’s annual LGBT awareness week.

The hugely symbolic gesture by Cork City Council, which will fly the rainbow flag over City Hall for the entire week, was hailed by gay rights campaigners as a milestone in the life of the city.

Dave Roche, of the Cork Gay Project, said he was filled with civic pride, and praised the various state and voluntary agencies who have been campaigning for years to make Cork an inclusive city.