AWARD RECIPIENT
Gemma Cooney
Gemma Cooney is a key volunteer with Longford Pride and the Hazy Rainbow Social Club. She helps to organise many events in collaboration with local businesses, venues and civic groups, counteracting isolation among LGBTQ+ people in the Midlands.
Accepting the award at The GALAS, Gemma shared: “I’m a relative blow-in to Longford, so I’ve been very lucky to meet a lot of the people who are already making things happen there. So I want to shout out the folks who have spent the last year working with me—up ladders during gale warnings to cable tie Pride flags to lamposts,” she laughed.
Gemma also gave a special mention to the Longford Pride Chair, Lorelei, who is also her girlfriend.
NOMINEES
Jude Copeland
Jude Copeland has volunteered with the LGBTQIA+ Heritage Project in Northern Ireland for four years, as well as hosting history clubs and podcasts, gathering items for the online archive and delivering lunch and learn sessions across the region. He has also given lots of time and guidance to Causeway Pride and Foyle Pride, and is involved with Mammies for Trans Rights in Dublin and Belfast.
Mark Armstrong
Mark Armstrong is the outgoing chairperson of Dublin Front Runners, Ireland’s largest LGBTQ+ athletics club. A member since 2018, he has always shown exceptional commitment to the group and watched it grow to having over 500 members. A key organiser of the Dublin Pride Run, in 2025 alone, Mark helped raise over €76,000 for Irish LGBTQ+ charities.
Richie Fagan
Richard ‘Richie’ Fagan is the longest-serving president of Dublin’s LGBTQ+ rugby club, the Emerald Warriors, a role he has held since 2019. Earlier this year, he was awarded a ‘Services To Rugby’ medal by Irish Rugby, presented at the union’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
By Alice Linehan