Training — Activism — Ireland
Meeting of minds
On November 14 and 15 this year, over 80 staff and volunteers of LGBTQ+ organisations from across the island of Ireland gathered in Tullamore for the LGBTQI+ Training Links CPD Conference. Hosted at the Bridge House Hotel, the event brought together groups with different sets of expertise in an environment of shared learning, peer support and community building. Beatrice Fanucci reflects on some of the highlights.
The Training Links CPD Conference represented a unique opportunity for sector-wide learning, where LGBTQ+ organisations from across the country were able to connect and share crucial knowledge about their areas of expertise. The event featured talks and workshops led by community members and industry experts on a variety of topics, including sexual health, trans healthcare, housing and more.
On the first day of the conference, the programme focused on building participants’ capacity to work in the sector. Paula Quirke, Rehabilitation Coordinator at Spirasi, delivered a presentation on how to manage “vicarious trauma”, which people working in LGBTQ+ groups and nonprofit organisations can often experience. The second talk of the day, hosted by psychotherapist and counsellor Claire Mooney, focused on self-care planning and overcoming negative feelings that may arise from being exposed to the suffering of others.
After the programme wrapped up on the first day, Gay Project and LGBT Ireland hosted Gold Fever, a special afterparty filled with DJs, drag, and plenty of camp classics from the 80s, 90s, and 00s.
The second day opened with a series of breakout sessions, allowing participants to select from a wide range of topics. GOSHH presented a talk on sexual health, focused on recent developments in Ireland’s sexual health landscape, including the new National Sexual Health Strategy, access to testing, PrEP and PEP, and progress on the National HIV Action Plan.
LGBT Ireland presented Supporting Migrant Communities, a session that explored the barriers faced by LGBTQ+ migrants in accessing supports and services in Ireland, highlighting inclusive approaches that aim to promote safety and visibility.
Belong To presented Volunteering in LGBTQ+ Organisations, which provided an interactive space for volunteers across organisations to connect, share experiences, and reflect on a series of topics, including building a strong volunteering community, avoiding burnout and engaging in peer support.
LINQ presented Intimate Partner Abuse within LBQ Women’s (Trans and Non-Binary Inclusive) Relationships. This talk explored how intimate partner abuse manifests in LGBTQ+ relationships, with a focus on LBQ women and the distinct experiences of trans women and non-binary people.
TENI presented Trans Healthcare, a session that provided an overview of current trans healthcare services in Ireland, with updates on the new Model of Care consultation process.
After the breakout sessions, participants gathered again for more discussions and talks on topics that are relevant to the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland and beyond. Project Leader at Focus Ireland Paul Kelly delivered an insightful talk on housing and homelessness needs, highlighting the lack of data on the situation of LGBTQ+ people in the country.
In the afternoon, the conference concluded with three more sessions: a panel discussion addressing loneliness and isolation, moderated by LGBT Ireland, a presentation and group project on building sustainable rural LGBTQ+ networks led by Midlands LGBT Project and an interactive talk on queer joy presented by ShoutOut. The programme allowed participants to share experiences, connect with groups with similar goals and build the entire sector’s capacity to respond to the needs of the community in Ireland.
This conference was made possible by funding from The Wheel Training Links programme, which has supported the training and development needs of nonprofit workers across Ireland since 2005. In 2025-2026, the programme awarded a total fund of €575,000 to 17 Training Networks, thus supporting the training and development of a total of 271 charities, community and voluntary organisations and social enterprises from all over the country.