matters

building was unoccupied during Covid).

Two rooms are situated on the first floor, each one unique, and he leads us into the one looking out on Capel Street.

“Welcome to the Red Room! (It’s painted red). You are now stepping into history,” said Oisín. “This room has a lot of meaning for queer people, because a lot of the crucial political meetings about the marriage referendum and gender recognition took place in this room.

“It was here and in the office above us that much of the marriage referendum and the repeal referendum were fought from –so the centre has a very strong connection to social change and progress in Ireland over the last two decades, not only for LGBT people but for women as well,” he said.

Ireland’s queer library is in the room next door, with free membership open to the public and 4,500 titles to choose from (and each book is browsable online).

Several support groups use the library for meetings in the evenings, said Oisín.

“We run Alcoholics Anonymous three days a week and Narcotics Anonymous twice a week. We have acting classes, Irish dancing, yoga, book clubs - there’s a whole range of activities.

So, what’s it like for people visiting for the first time?

“I was one of those people that had to cross this threshold as a young man. And I found a family that I didn’t know existed for me," said Oisín. "You’ll always find a smile and a welcome here.

“Remember that everyone that walks into this building or into a queer space has that moment or question or self-doubt. All I would say is you’ll find love and warmth here,” he added.

Outhouse has 15 employees and is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 9pm. It hopes to extend its opening hours to include weekends in 2023.

Outhouse as an entity exists for 25 years and has been on Capel Street since 1999.

The building itself is one of Dublin’s oldest, dating back to 1722.

WEBSITE: https://www. outhouse.ie/

VIDEO: Take 'Changing Ireland’s full tour and see inside Dublin’s Outhouse here (7 mins): https://bit.ly/OuthouseTour