Hundreds of people gathered in Cork city centre on Thursday night to protest a decision made by the owners of a popular gay bar, Chambers, to remove LGBTQI+ decorations for Freshers’ Week, which marks the return of students to college. Chambers Bar on Washington Street has been a firm favourite with the LGBTQI+ community for the past 18 years. The protestors gathered on the steps of the Courthouse across the road from the venue amid heavy rain on Thursday night. Attendees held placards and chanted: “We’re here to stay, you can’t paint the gay away.” In a statement, UCC Students’ Union expressed their dissatisfaction with what they described as the “rebranding” of Chambers to Sinners for Freshers’ Week.