UCC unveils Rainbow Walkway to mark ‘national coming out’ day

The walkway symbolises the progress made at UCC and nationally since the first LGBT+ staff and students groups were established by the university in the 1980s.

University College Cork was the first Irish university to establish LGBT+ staff and student groups in the 1980s. UCC President John O'Halloran unveils the UCC Rainbow Walkway - the first institution-led rainbow walkway on an Irish university campus. Pictured were staff and students including Dr Avril Hutch with activists Cathal Kerrigan and Dr Joan Mc Carthy. Photo: Daragh McSweeney/Provision

The Irish university which established the first LGBT+ staff and student groups in the 1980s has unveiled a rainbow path on campus to celebrate diversity and inclusivity.

UCC President John O’Halloran, who unveiled the UCC Rainbow Walkway this afternoon to mark ‘national coming out’ day, said he hopes the installation of the path, between the Boole complex and the O’Rahilly building, celebrates and recognises the diversity of the UCC community and expresses UCC’s firm commitment to the creation of a campus that is inclusive, where the whole of the UCC community can feel a sense of welcome and belonging.