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Cumann na Daoine

A community based organisation in Youghal, Co. Cork, Ireland.

Pride Week: Rainbow Flag flies in Youghal for a historic date

On Tuesday 22nd June, the Progress Rainbow Flag was raised again at the Town Hall in Youghal, with the full support of Cork County Council. The flag is raised this week to mark LGBT+ Pride Day, June 25th, which marks the beginnings of the LGBT+ rights movement in 1971.

The flag, presented to Cork County Council by Cumann na Daoine’s Seeding the County project, was raised by Cllr. Mary Linehan-Foley on behalf of Cork County Mayor Gillian Coughlan. Cllr Liam Quaide, Green Party, and Liam McCarthy representing Cork County PPN, were also in attendance.

Speaking to the people gathered, Cllr. Linehan-Foley said:

“It’s great to have the flag raised outside our state building- the Town House at the Mall in Youghal, and I’m delighted to be raising the flag. I seem to be raising flags for the last three years for this occasion and there’s nothing nicer for me. I love to come and when the mayor asked me, during the week, if I would deputise I said “of course”- she didn’t have to ask twice. It’s something very dear and close to my own heart. Hayley was filling me in on the importance of this week, and this month, for the gay community, the gender community, and for everybody who’s involved. When I look back at the time when my own son who is gay and came out back in the day when nobody did; he went to Australia at eighteen or nineteen and felt he had to run away. Now standing here in the Mall, in my hometown and looking at the flag being raised I go “Wow, nobody needs to run away any more.”. We’re being accepting which we always should have been anyway; but people are more aware now. I think when my son comes back to visit he feels more at home now, and included. It’s not something I would have thought about if it had not happened to someone close to me. I never would have thought that anybody would be excluded: race, gender, whatever; but listening to my son about what was going on, and what does go on, it upset me a lot of times because how dare anyone judge anyone for anything. That’s not what we’re about. Getting back from the emotional to today – it’s great to be here and you’re doing great work Hayley, you and your crew, and all at Cumann na Daoine. It goes without saying as you’ve everything up there, including myself and my clinics, so it’s a great little building. You’re doing marvellous work and we’re very, very thankful to Cork County Council – for everything they’ve done. Bualadh bos, the flag is raised”.

Thanking Cllr. Linehan-Foley, Hayley Fox-Roberts, Development Worker with Cumann na Daoine & Seeding the County, said:

“I want to thank you all for being here, and to thank particularly the representatives of Cork County Council: but also, even more importantly in some ways, the people here who are from the community, the local community. It’s really important that we come together. It is a momentous date, June 25th, it marks the beginning of the gay liberation movement, following the Stonewall Riot – and is an international marker of the need for gay rights and the need for LGBT+ equality. To some it may seem like flags are going up and down like a fiddler’s elbow; but the importance of seeing that flag flying is immense.  I drove into town today. I am out and I’ve been around for years and it still really moves me to see that flag up there, and I think if one person sees that flag flying and is strengthened by that – if one person sees it and has more confidence –  then it is worth every bit of the effort in getting the flag up the flagpole. Reflecting on that, this morning I had a call from an elderly LGBT+ gentleman who is wanting to come out after a lifetime of living in secrecy. He is nervous about coming out and it was so important to me that I was able to refer him to relevant supports and helplines, to refer him to a group. To be able to do that is the same thing – if it makes a difference to one person what we do, if it makes a difference to anyone, of any age, then what we are doing is well worth all the effort. So I really appreciate all your efforts to be here today, to mark this for every single individual who may not yet have the confidence but who may walk or drive past this flag today and feel that they are supported in their local community. Thank you”.