Fearless Future: Celebrating LGBTQ+ trailblazers and allies in Irish sport

Cork

Join us for an inspiring panel with LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches, referees, pundits, and sports journalists, sharing their journeys in Irish sport.

Contact:

W: https://corkpride.com/

Event Description:

In a world where sport is increasingly a platform for visibility and belonging, LGBTQ+ voices in sport play a vital role in shaping a more inclusive future on and off the field.

This event will explore the challenges, triumphs, and ongoing progress of the LGBTQ+ community within Irish sport, while highlighting the essential role of allies in fostering inclusivity.

Whether you're an athlete considering coming out, a coach working with teenagers, a teammate that wants to be a better ally, or part of a club striving to make sport more inclusive — this is something you won’t want to miss!

Guest panellists

Joining us are the following LGBTQ+ trailblazers in Irish sport:

Fiona Hayes (MC)

Ireland and Munster player, turned coach, and now pundit with Off The Ball and Virgin Media, Hayes will lend her insights across multiple roles, and MC this event with humour and sensitivity.

David Gough
A top Gaelic football referee, Gough was the first openly gay official to referee an All-Ireland final. He’s a powerful advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the GAA, using his platform to promote visibility and challenge homophobia in sport.

Valerie Mulcahy
Mulcahy is a ten-time All-Ireland ladies football champion and six-time All-Star who helped launch the Women's Gaelic Players' Association and became the GAA's first openly gay female player in 2015. Her advocacy in LGBTQ+ rights has been instrumental.

Kevin Penrose
Penrose is a Gaelic footballer from Tyrone who made headlines in early 2025 as one of the few openly gay active GAA players in Ireland, brilliantly recounting his story on BBC Sport. Known online as @wildirishwanderer, he documents his adventures across Ireland.

Lindsay Peat
Peat has represented her country at the highest levels in rugby and basketball, as well as Dublin in Gaelic football. She is a vocal LGBTQ+ ambassador has made her a powerful role model for visibility and equality in Irish sport.

Eoghan Cormican
Galway native Cormican is one of Ireland's top sports journalists (Irish Examiner) renowned for his insightful storytelling. One of the first openly gay sports journalists in Ireland, he is paving the way for others to follow, to be their true selves in the world of sport.

Doors open at 7pm. Event at 7.30pm sharp.
For accessibility queries, contact The River Lee Hotel directly on (021) 425 2700.