Kevin Penrose: ‘You have guys playing Gaelic football who are too scared to come out. I want to give them courage'
Tyrone
, called Aghyaran. I come from a family of four boys. We were, and are still, a very
Gaelic football
household. My father played and coached teams. My older brothers played county.
The GAA has a lot of history. There are very traditional values. Growing up, you're just there to play football. People don't really talk about their problems. Going into my teenage years, you had toxic masculinity in the changing rooms. You're trying to find out who you are, and you're going up through these teams, and there's a sense that to stand out and be seen as one of the best footballers, you need to act a certain way around others. There was the impression that if I didn't take part in, for example, the 'gay' word being thrown around the changing room, I would be seen as weak.
I didn't know I was gay until around 18 or 19. I started having an inkling around 16, 17, but I didn't really know. After my school years I went over to Liverpool for university, thinking that's my chance now to explore my sexuality. It was figured out away from Ireland.
Kevin Penrose on an adventure
I spent a lot of summers in the US, working at summer camps. Looking back, it was a great experience, but it was my way of coping by getting away. Every time I came home, there would be questions about whether I was coming back to football, but I knew myself I wouldn't be able to. Even though I was a good footballer, I was hiding my true self.
READ MORE
My love of travel goes back to those times in the US. I took my GoPro around, just to document it for friends and family. I posted on Instagram and whatnot. I didn't really explore Ireland that much, but [later] I started to think Ireland actually has so much beauty in the mountains and beaches I've never seen before. The hobby of [documenting] continued into the next couple of years.
During Covid came the start of
TikTok
. I thought: I have such a backlog of footage and content of Ireland at this stage, why not just post it? My page sort of blew up. I started growing an audience.
[
Róis: 'Moving away from Ireland shook me. Going away is essential'
Opens in new window
]
After Covid, I did just under eight months in Asia. I still carried on posting travel content, but I got to the stage where I didn't even enjoy that. I remember I was in Phuket in Thailand for about a week and there were four of five days where I didn't leave the hotel room. It was just me, myself and my thoughts. That's when I decided to ring home and come out. Looking back now, I wish it was in person, but I think once you're in that head space, you just need to get it off your chest.
I told the family and friends and everything was great. I had a big following, so I thought I'd post a video about it. That took off as well.
I came back to Ireland that September. I went back to football the next season. The first session back, I was like: what way is it going to go? We've a panel of 45-50 lads. I'm friends with all of them but I wouldn't have in-depth conversations with a lot of them. But everything was so normal. It was like okay, I'm just here to play football. I'm not feeling paranoid about how I should talk, how I should act. I don't have to sit in a corner any more. I can stand up and be a vital part of this team.
Because I was running away for so long, I associated Ireland with how I felt at that time: just sad and lonely and anxious. In the three years since I came back, I've never felt how I felt 10 years ago. From the moment I stepped back in Ireland, I've been on a high. With the travel bits as well, I can see the beauty of Ireland and what it has to offer; I can take the time to do hiking and sea swims and the small things in life. If you appreciate what you have here, you notice that you don't have to fly halfway across the world to see a beautiful sunset or mountain.
The GAA, that environment, my football club, used to be the place I dreaded going. Now, I look at it as one of my safest places
I post a lot more personal stuff now, which I think captivates a new audience. I want to be the role model that I didn't have growing up. We didn't know about any openly gay GAA players at the time. It wasn't in the public eye, which, I think, is one of the reasons why I felt I couldn't really take part [in football, for a time]. That's why I'm happy to talk about it now – you have guys who are still in rural communities playing football but they're too scared to come out. I'm hoping the content I post will resonate and give them courage.
I've never gone back into that mindset of: Ireland isn't for me. It flipped on its head. The GAA, that environment, my football club, used to be the place I dreaded going. Now, I look at it as one of my safest places, where I can be myself.
In conversation with Niamh Donnelly. This interview is part of
a series
about well-known people's lives and relationships with Ireland. Follow Kevin's journey on TikTok
@kevin_penrose_
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Five big questions on David Clifford ahead of final after Tyrone exhibition
The odds on David Clifford winning the Footballer of the Year award for a third time continue to shorten after his barnstorming display in Saturday's All-Ireland semi-final. Clifford shot 1-9 as Kerry cruised past Tyrone and into the All-Ireland final and leads the betting ahead of Donegal's Michael Murphy for the game's most prestigious individual honour. Only one player, fellow Kerryman Jack O'Shea, has been named Footballer of the Year more than twice, with the great midfielder carrying away the Texaco version of the award 1980, '81, '84 and '85. At the very least, Clifford is shoo in for a sixth All Star, regardless of what happens in the final against Donegal. At just 26, he has every chance of setting a new mark in the long-running awards scheme. Another Kerryman, Pat Spillane, has the most All Star awards in football (nine), while former Kilkenny hurler Henry Shefflin holds the outright record (11). Was it his best ever display? As good as it was, probably not. The 1-9 that he compiled was not even his biggest of this Championship campaign and is four points fewer than the 3-7 tally that he posted against Cavan in the preliminary quarter-final last month, albeit the opposition was stiffer on Saturday. But Clifford might well have surpassed that total as he missed a couple of two-point efforts and fluffed goal chances in either half. So, worryingly for Donegal, there is still room for improvement. And, of course, the RTE panel decided that Clifford wasn't even the best player on the pitch on Saturday, with the official Man of the Match award going to Joe O'Connor after another huge display from the midfield powerhouse. Was it the biggest ever tally in an All-Ireland semi-final? No, that record belongs to Cillian O'Connor, who amassed an incredible 4-9 in Mayo's win over Tipperary in the 2020 semi-final. It's worth nothing that 4-3 of O'Connor's tally came from play, with a further 0-6 from frees. Clifford's total was bloated somewhat by the fact that he hit one two-pointer, a sensational score, which has only been introduced to the game this year, while he scored 0-4 from single-point frees. His 1-9 is also three points fewer than Matt Connor's 2-9 for Offaly in the 1980 All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry. It was his biggest tally at senior level in Croke Park, though short of his 4-4 against Derry in the 2017 All-Ireland minor final. Who will mark him in the All-Ireland final? Jim McGuinness will surely hand that job to Brendan McCole. The Donegal full-back is one of the best man-markers in the game and on Sunday successfully negated the influence of Meath's Jordan Flynn, who was rampant in the Royals' quarter-final win over Galway. However, as numerous observers have pointed out, containing Clifford is far from a one-man task and providing some sort of extra cover for McCole and limiting Kerry's kicking game will be high on McGuinness's priority list coming into the final. Are Kerry over-reliant on him? Probably, but then that's always likely to some degree with a player of his talent. Still though, as difficult as it might be, if Donegal can limit Clifford to manageable proportions then they'll have gone a long way towards winning the All-Ireland final. Of the 15-175 (220) that Kerry have scored in their eight Championship games, Clifford accounts for 8-53 (77). That's 35% of their total - more than one-third. Donegal have a much greater spread having had 12 scorers in their win over Meath, compared to seven for Kerry against Tyrone. Can he be the creator? With Clifford likely to be commanding the attention of not just McCole, but drawing other defenders too, can he exploit the space that will naturally open up elsewhere for his teammates? The Fossa man's vision isn't just limited to where the goalposts are these days and he has matured from his early years, when his shot selection was questionable at times. His playmaking abilities are not to be understated and, in a game of tight margins, it could be crucial.
Irish Post
an hour ago
- Irish Post
Donegal crushes Meath in All-Ireland semi-final
DONEGAL stormed into the All-Ireland final after a total dismantling of Meath at Croke Park, setting up a high-stakes final with Kerry on July 27th. In what was billed as a test of Donegal's experience against Meath's momentum, Jim McGuinness's side proved too strong, pulling away in the second half to end Meath's remarkable run. Meath entered the semi-final as the story of the season, having taken down Dublin, Kerry, and Galway in succession. Dublin was beaten outside Croke Park, while Kerry fielded an under-strength side. Meath's victory over Galway in the quarter-final showed grit, but Donegal presented a very different challenge. Former Donegal forward Brendan Devenney had called Meath's season 'brilliant' but warned that Donegal's big-game experience, along with McGuinness's influence and the return of Michael Murphy (no relation), could be decisive. That prediction proved accurate. Donegal absorbed early pressure, restricted Meath's long-range efforts, and controlled the tempo with their now-familiar mix of zonal defence and patient attacking transitions. McGuinness credited tactical adjustments and the value of the two-week break leading up to the game as key factors in the win. 'We got the job done early,' he said, pointing to Donegal's ability to shut down Meath's scoring threats and dictate the pace. Throughout the championship, Donegal has been methodical and consistent. Their ability to adapt mid-game and keep the scoreboard ticking has drawn comparisons to Jim Gavin's Dublin. Their semi-final win marks their fifth in six years, but this time, the momentum feels different. With McGuinness back and a title in sight, Donegal appears to be peaking at just the right moment. They'll face a Kerry side that also arrives in the final with serious momentum. After an explosive quarter-final against Armagh, Kerry followed up with a decisive win over Tyrone. What makes this upcoming All-Ireland final so exciting is the contrast of each side. Donegal's disciplined approach will face off against Kerry's confrontational style. For McGuinness and Donegal, a second title would mark a major return. For Kerry, it could be the crowning moment of their current era. See More: All-Ireland Semi Final, Donegal, GAA, Jim McGuiness, Meath
The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
How will Tyrone and Meath reflect on their 2025 seasons?
Tyrone A first All-Ireland semi-final since their 2021 Sam Maguire triumph ended in a bruising defeat to Kerry. The signs were creeping in before Mattie Donnelly knocked over a point at the half-time buzzer to bring the gap back to three. They could have been trailing by much more had Kerry been more efficient with their goal chances. Darragh Canavan's four points — including a two-pointer — in the early stages of the second half kept Tyrone in the hunt, but Kerry went on to outscore them 0-9 to 0-4. After smoking out Dublin with the stronger finish in the All-Ireland quarter-final, Tyrone ended up with a second-half fadeout to exit the championship. Michael McKernan was a major absentee from their defence due to injury, and although he was declared fit for Kerry, his second-half introduction did little to affect the outcome. Tyrone's attacking force failed to fire too. Canavan scored 0-7, while their half-forward line of Seánie O'Donnell, Donnelly and Ciarán Daly combined for 0-6. But four of their six starting forwards were taken off, including the normally lively Darren McCurry who was well marshalled by Jason Foley. Malachy O'Rourke's first season as Tyrone boss started with relegation from Division 1 for the first time since 2016. Three losses in a row to Armagh, Mayo and Kerry put them in drop zone territory and subsequent wins over Donegal and Dublin were not enough to rescue them from playing Division 2 football for 2026. Advertisement Their search for a first Ulster title since 2021 goes on after a thrilling Ulster semi-final defeat to Armagh which was settled by a Rory Grugan free at the buzzer. They recovered from that defeat to win Group 1 in the All-Ireland series and take the direct route to the All-Ireland quarter-final. Leading Dublin by just one with five minutes to go, they reeled off the last six points of the game to win by 0-23 to 0-16. Tyrone have enjoyed a hugely successful year at underage level, claiming back-to-back All-Ireland U20 titles — three in total since 2022 — as well as the minor crown. Eoin McHolm, who made his first senior championship start in the semi-final against Kerry, hit 2-4 for the U20s in their 5-16 to 0-17 All-Ireland final win over Louth. Emerging star Joel Kerr was unavailable Tyrone's first All-Ireland minor victory since 2010 as he is contracted with West Ham United. But the Red Hands still prevailed by one point against Kerry. Another positive for Tyrone to reflect on this year is Errigal Ciarán reaching a first All-Ireland senior club final where they were held off by Dublin's Cuala. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO Meath It was also a year of firsts for Meath as they ended a 16-year wait for an All-Ireland semi-final appearance. Under new manager Robbie Brennan, Meath ended Dublin's dominance in the Leinster championship while also enjoying major victories against Kerry and Galway in the All-Ireland series. Three high-stakes wins is a major green tick. Similar to Tyrone, though, they lacked the firepower to keep pace with Donegal on Sunday. Jim McGuinness's side scored three goals but left a lot of green flags behind in a 20-point victory. The sharpness and efficiency that characterised Meath's win over Galway eluded them this time in Croke Park. They were also guilty of some wayward shooting, while the loss of influential midfielder Bryan Mention to injury ultimately paved the way for a Donegal massacre. Missing out on promotion to Division 1 was a blow for Meath in 2025. They were on the brink of reaching the top tier before losing out to a Louth side who preserved their Division 2 status with a 1-19 to 0-17 win in March. Ace forward Jordan Morris also suffered what looked like a season-ending injury that day. The following month brought another setback as Joe McMahon and Martin Corey stepped away from the backroom team just over a week before the start of their Leinster championship. Brennan steered Meath through that rocky patch to reach the Leinster final, while Morris managed to come back from a fractured tibia along with Grade 2 tears of the ACL and PCL in just six weeks. Meath's Leinster semi-final victory over Dublin shook the GAA world, ending a 15-year stranglehold on the province. It was a particularly striking result as they were 10 points down at half-time against Offaly in the quarter-final before eventually winning by seven. The provincial decider against Louth was a repeat of the controversial 2010 final. And while it was somewhat fitting that the Wee County avenged those ghosts with a famous win, it was another disappointing result for Meath. A Matthew Costello goal in the 62nd minute edged Meath ahead by one point and appeared to be the turning point in the game. But they failed to build on that momentum and conceded a free outside the arc which Sam Mulroy converted to move the dial again. But as Louth toasted a first Leinster success in 68 years, they struggled through the All-Ireland series while Meath regenerated to win their group. They claimed the All-Ireland quarter-final spot with a 1-22 to 0-16 upset win over Kerry. The Kingdom were within two points by the 50th minute, but Meath's composure secured another big win for Brennan's resolute crew. Last year's All-Ireland finalists Galway were considered the favourites for that quarter-final meeting, but Meath would not be conquered. A quickfire 2-3 in five minutes put the Tribesmen two clear in the final 10 minutes but Morris struck back with a goal to quench the Galway revival and spark the Meath celebrations. Related Reads 'We massively underachieved in our eyes. When Jim came back, standards were raised' 'Like that older brother that you don't want to let down' - Dublin club glory to Meath manager Jack and David have decided that this state of affairs will not do. At all. That score helped bring Morris's tally to 1-6 to cap off a remarkable comeback from injury and put himself in All-Star contention. Bryan Menton, Eoghan Frayne and Seán Rafferty have put themselves in that conversation too. And while Donegal proved to be a step too far, Meath will reflect on 2025 with much fondness.
