Out & About Hiking is a Dublin based hiking group founded by and consisting of members of the Irish and international LGBTQ+ community.
Since 1989, the group has brought together members of the LGBTQ+ community for a common interest outside the space of pubs and nightclubs. Offering an alternative to the nightlife scene, Out & About has forged strong friendships amongst its members and has even resulted in a wedding or two.
Group member David Caron, who has been hiking with Out & About since 1999, described to Dublin Live exactly what the group gets up to and what members love about it.
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He explained: "Our age range is from about mid 20s to 70s. There is a strong international dimension as well. We're always very happy to have people join us even if they're only in the country for the weekend."
David revealed that the group is in fact the longest running established social/sporting activity group in the Irish LGBTQ+ community and has meant a lot to its members since its establishment over 30 years ago.
He said: "I think it's really important to have an alternative to nightlife for the LGBTQ+ community. It's an outdoor activity which mixes exercise, fresh air and a high degree of sociability. You can be in the group's company for maybe six hours. If there are twenty or thirty hikers out that day, you can engage in any number of conversations.
"A lot of enduring friendships have developed out of it and we've had some couples who have met through Out & About who have gone on to get married."
He added: "We also have social events that are independent of hiking. It could be going to the cinema, a castle, going out for meals.
"During the summer months, we have Thursday evening hikes and they're all operated on public transport principals."
As well as regular hikes in paces like County Wicklow and County Louth, the group occasionally ventures to central Europe and Scotland for trips.
Speaking about what pushed him to join Out & About Hiking, David revealed he was on the lookout for an LGBTQ+ activity club.
He explained: "I was always very active. I went along on my first hike and loved it straight away. It's a huge aspect of my social life and most of my closest LGBTQ+ friends would be people I've met in the group.
"There's a very strong sense of community within the club. It's a very important club to many of our members and they feel embedded in it.
"All sorts of backgrounds and ages are welcome. You can be talking to someone who is 20 or 70 and it they have that core activity in common.
"The international dimension is very important to us. Often people from abroad arrive in Ireland and they may not have come out in their home country. There might be an element of discovering themselves here and looking to find a group that is welcoming but doesn't have any agenda. We're inclusive and friendly and it's friendship that knits it all together. It enriches us."
Those who would like to join Out & About Hiking can find out more information here.
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