Ailbhe and Izzy Keane of Izzy Wheels visiting the Enable Ireland Respite Garden at Bord Bia Bloom. Izzy Wheels' colourful designs featured in the garden, which was designed by Robert Moore, and inspired by Enable Ireland's mission to maximise independence, choice and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Welcome to the June issue of the We Act Good News Gazette.

We Act is a campaign to celebrate Ireland's charities and community groups. We showcase the vibrancy, breadth and diversity of Ireland's non-profit sector. And we can't let Pride Month come to a close without drawing your attention to the incredible initiatives by large charities and small local groups working with LGBTQ+ people in communities across Ireland - not just in June, but 365 days a year.

From taking action on advocacy, visibility and education, to creating safe spaces for young people, and from organising social events, to providing vital services and supports - there are phenomenal organisations across the country working towards a fair, equal and safe Ireland for LGBTQ+ people. 

We're highlighting just one of those organisations in our main story this month - but we suggest you take a look around your town, city or county, and find out how you can support your local LGBTQ+ services. 

Enjoy this month's helping of the Good News Gazette, our positivity-laden monthly edit of great people, doing brilliant things!

Na Gaeil Aeracha Chairperson, Karl Shannon

Established in 2020, Na Gaeil Aeracha (Rainbow Gaels) is Ireland's first explicitly LGBTQ+ inclusive GAA club. Karl Shannon is the founder and chairperson, this is his story... 

"It all started when I put out a tweet. I’m no influencer, I don’t have any kind of mass following. But I said I’d be interested in getting something going for GAA, that would be an explicitly queer-inclusive gathering.  

The tweet took off.  

The amount of support I received was so overwhelming, I knew I needed to get something up and running. We now have two teams, GAA (men’s Gaelic football) and LGFA (ladies’ Gaelic football) and over 160 registered members. We don’t currently have a club house, but I dream of it all the time, I can just see it! I definitely think it’s in our future. 

Na Gaeil Aeracha GAA Team

GAA was very central for me from a young age, and for my family. I think knowing that a club like Na Gaeil Aeracha existed - a club that exists within both of your communities; both within the queer community itself and within the GAA community - would have helped make coming to terms with who I am, and celebrating who I am, a lot easier and a lot faster.  

I really wanted to give back to the queer community itself, I wanted to create something for us, something that would bring people together. A resource that would make people happy. It’s a great way to meet people and it’s also, a healthy habit to have.

I’ve had a few members come up to me on nights out, and tell me how much it’s meant for them. You get to make friends who are likeminded, there’s that ease of coming into it, we don’t have to deal with “what if’ scenarios or overthinking, you’re celebrated for who you are.  I hate to think that they may never have got involved with the GAA or the LGFA otherwise. 

Na Gaeil Aeracha LGFA Team

We’ve people who’ve never played before, people who stopped playing when they were young and we have people who have been playing for a very long time.

Our managers and coaches go above and beyond to make sure everybody feels included, that people don’t feel threatened by more experienced players, that everybody’s being told the basic rules. It’s a very hard balance, but they really are doing a brilliant job. 

The response from other teams we’ve played has been absolutely phenomenal. For our GAA team, the first team we played against was Ballymun Kickhams, and they were so responsive towards us, so helpful - now we did lose, but it was our first match!

The LGFA are in their second year, and we’ve won three matches so far and, it’s such a phenomenal experience to witness on the side-lines. I wouldn’t change it for the world.  

Na Gaeil Aeracha at Dublin Pride

The light that Na Gaeil Aeracha brings, I really want to spread it across Ireland.

There’s a new GAA club that’s being set up in Belfast, Aeracha Uladh, they’ve such good numbers already. I had so many people reach out to me when I started this, from Cork, Kerry, Belfast, Galway, saying they would love something like this. So, to see new clubs getting set up, it’s phenomenal."

We Act is a national, collaborative campaign to celebrate the value and impact of the charities and community groups in Ireland. It is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development. 

Got a story? Email info@WeAct.ie

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