Tá riméad orm réamhra a chur leis an leabhrán seo i mbliana..
Is cúis mórtais mhór dom mar Ardmhéara go gcuireann muintir Chathair Chorcaí fáilte dílis roimh a saoránaigh aerach agus leispiach.
It is a matter of great pride for me to be invited to write the foreword to this booklet. As Lord Mayor of Cork City I am proud that Cork is a City that welcomes it’s gay and lesbian community, our sisters, neighbours, friends, work colleagues, brothers and grandparents.
The Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2010 guide lists Cork as one of the top 10 cities in the world to visit. I have no doubt that the city’s gay and lesbian citizens can rightly bask in this accolade. I am also proud to welcome all those who have come to the city to celebrate Gay Pride Week.
I would like to outline some of the ways in which the City works to help gay and lesbian people to live full lives in the city.
“Imagine Our Future” the strategy of the City Development Board sets out that the “The Gay and Lesbian Communities will be enabled to fully participate in the social, cultural and economic life of Cork City”.
To this end there is an interagency steering committee in place comprising government bodies and gay community representatives. This committee in 2010 has overseen the production of a leaflet outlining the work of the Cork Gay Community Development Co. Ltd. and (L.inC)
Lesbians in Cork. Also, these groups will soon commence the roll out of an education programme for staff of public sector organisations.
I hope that both of these efforts will lead to the greater inclusion of LGB citizens in the life of the City. Also, the City Council facilitates the promotion of Gay Pride Week by erecting banners on the eastern entry to the City at Dunkathel.
I wish you all a very enjoyable week. May you be regular visitors to Cork in the future.
Bain taithneamh as an tseachtain. Go mairfimid go léir go dtí an t-am seo arís.
Is mise le meas,
Cllr. Dara Murphy
Ardmhéara Chorcaí
Lord Mayor of Cork
