08/20/2026
A Historic First for San Francisco and Cork! A remarkable piece of San Francisco’s history has crossed the Atlantic for the first time.
The San Francisco–Cork Sister City Committee is proud to celebrate the arrival in Cork of an original 1978 Gilbert Baker Rainbow Flag. On loan from San Francisco's GLBT Historical Society Museum, this marks the first time this historic artifact has been exhibited outside the United States.
From its inception by the late San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk and artist Gilbert Baker, this flag represents enduring values of pride, resilience, hope, and community. It is now on display at the Cork Public Museum for the next four months as part of the museum’s new permanent exhibition on local LGBTQ+ history.
San Francisco and Cork have shared a Sister City relationship since 1984. Bringing this extraordinary piece of history to Cork required vision, collaboration, and dedication across the Atlantic.
This visual history piece highlights that teamwork and the people in both cities whose commitment helped make this loan a reality. It is a testament to the strength of the San Francisco–Cork connection and what is possible when Sister Cities work together around a shared purpose.
Thank you to all who were involved over the years to make this come to fruition!
The GLBT Historical Society Daniel Lurie Consulate General of Ireland San Francisco Cork City LGBT+ InterAgency Group Cork City Council Rainbow Cities Network Cork Public Museum
