Video available here.

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After over 6 months of biting my tongue, I am buzzing to FINALLY announce this to the world.

As everyone knows, @nagaeilaeracha is something I care a lot about. It has literally changed my life, and I can’t remember how I survived without the people I’ve met through this club (#sisters). When I was asked to write a piece about being #gay in sport and my involvement with #NGA to be shared with young people across the country, it was a no brainer. As someone who grew up with basically zero #LGBTQ representation around me, I know how important it is as a young person to see yourself represented in the media. So getting to be a part of this for the next generation of queer people from every corner of the country is something I’m incredibly proud of and grateful for.

Thinking back on my own teenage years and my experience in the education system and in sport, I decided to tell the story of me realising I was gay, battling that identity crisis without role models or representation as Ireland changed around me, all the way up to the point of not only accepting myself, but celebrating myself too.

This poem is a love letter to my younger self, and to the people who taught me that although being gay is not a choice, it’s something I’d still choose if it was one. I’m very lucky my family has always loved and accepted me, but I’m even luckier for my chosen family who taught me to love and accept myself.

So thank you so much to the community I have found in #NaGaeilAeracha, and go raibh MÍLE MAITH AGAIBH to everyone in @accentureireland, @spunout.ie, and @fuelhq for your support, allyship, and encouragement during this process - especially the camera, sound, production and directorial crew who made me feel so at ease sharing something so incredibly personal. A big thank you to @_gaff__ and @seanchoiche as well for encouraging me to tell my story. Finally, thank you again to everyone in NGA for making it what it is, and of course thank you to @karloseanain for starting it all with a Tweet 🖤💗

Le bród, dílseacht, agus grá, Cian xo