Opened in 1980 on Dame Lane by Cyril O'Brien, The Gym was far more than its name suggested. Operating as a gay sauna and social space at a time when male homosexuality was still criminalized in Ireland, it provided something rare and essential: privacy, safety, and the chance for queer men to gather without fear. In a hostile legal and social climate, that mattered profoundly.
Tucked near Dublin Castle, The Gym functioned as a discreet meeting place—largely hidden, but deeply vital. Alongside other early venues such as Incognito and the Viking Inn, it helped anchor a fragile but growing LGBTQ+ network in the city. These were rooms where community was built quietly, one conversation at a time.
