LGBTQ+ ALLY
AWARD RECIPIENT
Fiona Finn
Fiona Finn has been the CEO of the Sexual Health Centre in Cork since 2024. Under her leadership, the centre helped to set up Kindred, Ireland’s first peer-led trans healthcare clinic, in 2026. Fiona was also a lead in the CROSSROADS study on the impact of the far-right on the LGBTQ+ community, as well as new research on chemsex.
She described the award as “a real honour” and thanked the teams at Trans Healthcare Action and the Sexual Health Centre for nominating her. She described true allyship as “working with the community, following their lead and crucially, not taking up space that belongs to them.” She concluded, “Now more than ever, genuine allyship is imperative. With a persistent rise in hate and hostility towards the trans community, sitting on the sidelines is simply not an option.”
NOMINEES
Eve Kerton
Eve Kerton is the Co-Founder of Certified Proud, an Irish accreditation and membership body dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion across businesses and organisations. She is a former Belong To staff member and was instrumental during her days as DCU Students’ Union’s Welfare Officer in registering countless students to vote for marriage equality in 2015.
Michelle Jinks
Michelle Jinks has been running the Heart of Ireland Burlesque Festival in Athlone for four years and the Only After Dark Burlesque Show for eight years. She is known for creating inclusive spaces in the Midlands with diverse event lineups celebrating local LGBTQ+ talent.
National Museum of Ireland
The National Museum of Ireland has a strong track record of LGBTQ+ allyship. In 2025, it launched the LGBTQIA+ Tour of Collins Barracks, which is now embedded within its public programme and offered free of charge. The museum is also preserving material evidence of LGBTQ+ lives and activism, including Panti Bliss’ Noble Call dress, Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan’s wedding dresses, Marriage Equality campaign materials and trans solidarity badges.
By Alice Linehan