LINC

Established in 1999, LINC is the only dedicated community organisation for lesbian and bisexual women in the Republic of Ireland. As similar spaces and organisations around Europe have disappeared LINC continues to thrive and expand. This is due in no small part to a long history of community activism in Cork providing a solid foundation for a community organisation to be built upon. Lesbian and bisexual women had been organising events, socialising, and providing support to each other in the city for decades. During that time Cork Women’s Fun Weekend was set up, an event still running over 30 years later, and Cork Lesbian Line, now part of LGBT Ireland, was founded.

The aim of LINC (firstly as

Cairde Corcaí) was to provide a space where LB women could meet, socialise, learn and create in an environment where they felt safe to be ‘out’ and to be themselves. In many ways, while the organisation has expanded in the range of services it provides, it continues to offer that welcoming and safe space. The ethos of the organisation is perfectly portrayed in the words of one community member who described LINC as “a place I can be myself”. For many women LINC provided a vital lifeline and was often the only place in their life they felt safe to be ‘out’.

From those early days some of the activities included the production of a monthly inhouse magazine (pictured), produced by a small group of women with an interest in writing and publishing. The Lesbian Health Project, an innovative programme originally run by lesbian and bisexual women in The Other Place Community Centre, continued on through the work of LINC. Meeting up and socialising has always played a huge part in the lives of the community and dancing at The Matrix club night organised by LINC provided another valuable space for women to meet and have fun.

LINC continues to hold true to its early ideals of community development practice and principles and has a strong feminist ethos. Our community meetings continue to inform the programmes provided during the year. Today, LINC is well known and respected throughout the city, belonging to many community alliances and networks. Working alongside other colleagues and allies, it has contributed to a more inclusive city, which regularly flies the rainbow flag from its civic buildings.

Initially serving the LB community of Cork and the surrounding area, today LINC also serves women in other parts of the country who do not have access to direct services. Fun is still the name of the game and our resource centre hosts everything from a drama group to BBQs and parties.

It’s still all about making friends and socialising!

Kate Moynihan is Project Co-ordinator with LINC