Dónal at Wellington Square, Cork in early 1980s outside Laurie Steele’s and Arthur Leahy’s house.
Dónal Sheehan played a pivotal but largely unrecognised role in progress for LGBT people in Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s. Dónal was a founding member of the Cork Gay Collective, the Quay Coop, the Cork Anti-Amendment campaign, and Gay Health Action. He was the first Director of the Cork Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.
Outside GPO, O’Connell Street Dublin – Pride Parade 1984. Dónal left holding banner. Feat. David to right and Eamon McCann and Goretti Horgan in middle.Founding meeting of Gay Health Action in Quay Coop Cork, 1985. Dónal (L) beside Kieran. Donal was an IDATU activist and founder member of Quay Coop Cork a Worker’s Cooperative. Also feat. Bill Foley and Tonie Walsh.Outside St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin, 1984. Donal Sheehan holding Cork Gay Collective banner with Pat McCarthy (R) waiting for Dublin Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade to start.Donal Sheehan (L), Ann Fitzpatrick (RC), Martin (LC) and Deirdre Walsh (R) en route from Cork to Dublin for Pride, early 1980s.‘Diverse Communities’ book launch Quay Co-Op in 1994 feat. Donal Sheehan (L), Kieran (LC), Sandra Rose (RC) and Brendan Ryan (R).
Dónal died in 2008. Kieran provided a beautiful tribute at his funeral in 2008 (accessible below).
