Latest news with #DublinPrideParade
The Journal
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Head of garda group: 'The moment I came out, it became the most insignificant part of me'
THE PRESIDENT OF a garda group has said that he hopes that talking about his sexuality will help his colleagues. Mark O'Meara is currently the elected head of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) which represents rank and file members of Ireland's police force. In an interview published in the Garda Review, the group's magazine, he speaks about his own experiences of being a gay man in An Garda Síochána. O'Meara, who was first a member of the Metropolitan Police in London when he left Thurles, Co Tipperary in the 1980s. He then came home to Ireland and became a garda. He said his decision to speak openly was to give people an understanding of the difficulties he faced coming to terms with his sexuality and that he hopes it will help other gardaí. 'I am now in the final year of my presidency and I felt it was important to talk about this while I still had the platform of the position that I hold and hope to get across my experience of being a gay man within An Garda Síochána and perhaps inspire others to know it is okay to be open and honest about who they are,' he said. O'Meara said that he felt it would be 'disingenuous' if he didn't speak up. 'I just wanted to be open and honest and if this interview even helps one member of the GRA and indeed, An Garda Síochána, then it will have been worth it,' he added. The interview is the GRA's way also to mark Dublin Pride Parade on 28 June – it will come on 10th anniversary of the marriage equality referendum. Mark is married now to his partner Rory but he was married previously. In the interview he explained how difficult that time was for him as he was finding a way to be open about his sexuality with his loved ones from the previous relationship. Advertisement 'Having hidden my sexuality most of my life, I think now that I can be open and honest on how difficult that time of my life was, and I have no doubt so too, do many other gay people who can't, or who are afraid to come out, and so might suffer damaging mental and physical health. 'It's not being the real you, the complete you, that affects your relationships with others, in my case it was with my ex-wife and our two children,' he added. O'Meara said his experience of life in An Garda Síochána was positive and when he came out to his colleagues he was working in the driving school in Templemore Garda College. He said he was worried, before telling his colleagues, that he would be outed at work and keeping the secret was the most difficult time for him. 'But there's no doubt that for a number of years I struggled to have the confidence I have now. 'There were times when my daily prevailing thought was 'will someone look at me and say, he looks gay' and so up to the point where I came out, my sexuality was definitely one of the most difficult issues I ever dealt with. 'But the moment I came out it immediately became the most insignificant part of me, it meant nothing,' he added. Despite those struggles O'Meara does not regret coming out sooner. 'If I came out sooner, or even been conscious of how I really felt, that I wouldn't have married or had my children, perhaps wouldn't have then met my husband. 'So the timing and what happened over the years is nothing that I regret as I wouldn't be the man I am or have the things I have today. 'So I have no regrets as such, just perhaps guilt, some justifiable, some unjustified because you find solace in the fact that you were trying to protect your kids from hurt and pain. 'But in the end, it was for the best as my kids now see a much happier dad and we have a brilliant relationship,' he added. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Jobs site Indeed withdraws from Dublin pride parade partnership amid multinational exodus
JOBSEEKERS' WEBSITE INDEED pulled out of sponsoring the Dublin Pride Parade this year, The Journal has learned. Indeed, which has sponsored the event for many years, decided to take a step back this year, Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride CEO Jamie Kenny confirmed. The firm was listed as a sponsor on the website as early as January this year, archival images of the website show, but the company logo has since been removed. Kenny said it was the company's decision to take a step back. 'We are however aware that a number of companies are faced with the consequences or [uncertainty] based on tariffs at the minute, so there may be financial considerations they need to make, especially if they rely on US governmental contracts,' he said. 'It is case-by-case and not as clear-cut or simple as it may seem,' he added. It is understood that the decision by Indeed not to sponsor the event this year was separate to US tariffs. A spokesperson for the company did not respond to requests or calls for comment from The Journal before publication. It comes as corporate sponsors for pride parades in the US have backed away from the events as the Trump administration in Washington has sought to scrap diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) programmes at public and private bodies. Advertisement One parade in the UK faces being axed due to a sponsor exodus, BBC News reported last month . In Dublin, a number of large, multinational companies that previously partnered and sponsored the pride event here have not been listed on the website this year. Kenny told The Journal that a few companies have decided to no longer partner with the event, adding that it is 'disappointing' to see companies withdraw. He said that 'this is in part due to decisions we made based on the high values we expect from any organisation joining the Parade, and in part based on the anti DEI policies of the Trump administration'. It is understood that a number of companies have also been turned away by organisers after they offered to financially sponsor the event in recent years, for a variety of reasons. Kenny said the parade's focus will be on supporting workers who 'up to now have had their connection to the community facilitated by their employers'. 'We would like to send a clear message to any workers impacted that you are always welcome at Dublin Pride,' he added. Some large firms will continue to host separate events for employees during the parade, it is understood. 'Thankfully, the vast majority of companies who join the Parade each year have renewed their commitment to diversity and inclusion and will be with us on O'Connell Street at the end of June,' Kenny added. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
