The GAA is set to register its first LGBTQ club, which will be known as Na Gaeil Aeracha and will be initially based in Dublin.
Describing itself as 'Ireland's first explicitly LGBTQ friendly GAA team', Na Gaeil Aeracha are hoping to be up and running next year. The news emerged from a webinar hosted by DCU’s Centre of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion earlier this week and the club's launch is aimed at increasing inclusion in sport.
Speaking to
Newstalk Breakfast, the founder of Na Gaeil Aeracha (the Rainbow Gaels) Caoimhe Baxter said that "we believe that setting up a GAA LGBTQ+ inclusive club means that people will feel more welcome to join in. For whatever reason, a lot of people do not feel comfortable in a typical hetero-normalist club and this just means that a lot of people may have not joined in the GAA or they were pushed out." Caoimhe added that "this club is going to be inclusive of absolutely everybody, they will have a safe space to play".
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFfaNDgh2wS/
A GAA delegation took part in the Dublin Pride Parade for the first time last year and prominent gay figures in the association include referee David Gough, who oversaw the 2019 All-Ireland Football Final between Dublin and Kerry, and former Cork hurling goalkeeper Dónal Óg Cusack.
You can keep up to date with Na Gaeil Aeracha on their
Twitter and
Instagram pages.
READ NEXT: WATCH: Old footage of a furious Roy Keane losing a quiz goes viral
