24 March 2026
Below are Kieran’s speaking notes from the above event.
I first met Arthur Leahy and Laurie Steele about 1979 when I came back to Cork to take up a job as a planner in Cork Country Council.
Cork was a bleak and depressing place for gay people in those days but Arthur and Laurie were shining lights of hope and activism.
They were pivotal in the setting up of for example the Cork Gay Collective, the First National Gay Conference in Connolly Hall Cork 1981, the Quay Coop in 1982, the Cork Anti-Amendment campaign, Gay Health Action and many other initiatives.
Arthur was involved in GLEN from the start in 1988, and Arthur, Eoin Collins, Christopher Robson and myself became a great team. Arthur pushed us to set up Gay HIV Strategies.
We also had great enjoyable times in Cork and Dublin, having meals and drinks and chats.
Arthur has been a hugely positive figure in my life and many others.
Arthur continues to be active in a range of progressive projects.
Kieran Rose
Kieran Rose 