Decision not to re-paint Arklow Pride crossing a ‘betrayal of LGBTQIA+ community'
The man behind Arklow's Pride rainbow crossing has said that Arklow Municipal District's recent decision not to maintain it because it conflicts with current guidelines and legislation represents 'a profound step backwards and a betrayal of the LGBTQIA+ community'.
The first permanent rainbow crossing in the Republic of Ireland and the only of its kind in County Wicklow, Arklow's Pride crossing was created in 2021 on the back of years of campaigning by filmmaker, co-founder of the Wicklow Pride Festival and LGBTIQA+ crusader Dave Thomas.
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Irish Independent
26-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Pride crossing repainting debate rages on in Wicklow as district liaises on alternatives
At their May meeting, local councillors were informed by district staff that the Main Street crossing would not be refreshed after they received a correspondence wherein the position of Wicklow County Council was made clear, in that crossings would not be maintained because they 'do not comply with guidelines that he department has issued to us around crossings'. In response, local filmmaker and Wicklow Pride co-founder Dave Thomas, whose campaigning created the crossing in 2021, held a protest rally at the Arklow Bandstand, which was attended by nine people (including Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne) and aimed to highlight 'the lies behind Wicklow County Council and Arklow Municipal District's decision to remove the rainbow crossing'. Convening for their June meeting, Arklow councillors were informed by district administrator Alvina Brehony that they had received correspondence related to the Pride crossing demonstration, and explained that staff have discussed alternative ideas proposed by the Wicklow Pride committee. 'We have been liaising with the Wicklow Pride Committee with regards to other options, and they have come back to us with a couple of ideas, and we are exploring them,' Ms Brehony said. 'They met us last Thursday night, just so you know where we are at with this. Hopefully, the ideas they came back with will be acceptable to the members going forward.' Commenting on the correspondence, Cllr Leonard said that she wasn't at the rally, but had explained to Mr Thomas that it was due to a scheduling conflict, before stating her desire to see the reinstatement of Arklow's Pride crossing, which was the first permanent crossing of its kind in the Republic of Ireland. 'I think, if it hadn't been put it at all, it would be a different ballgame altogether, but we did put it in, and the message it sent has really affected a lot of people, not just the person that wrote that letter – it has impacted that community right across the board,' Leonard said. 'I think it's insensitive and verging on cruel to reverse something that a lot of thought and effort went into installing in the first place. 'I'm 100pc supportive of Dave, and I would like to see it repainted. I think it's important because there are people in the LGBTQIA+ community who have lived their whole lives, I have friends who have lived their whole lives, hiding in the shadows and not being able to tell their own family members because they were embarrassed or ashamed or felt it wasn't acceptable in society. 'I thought we had really turned the corner, and for a bit of paint on a road that means so much to people, and not having to be afraid of being themselves and be accepted, and the community to be inclusive – I think this has turned into such a negative thing when it doesn't have to be. 'I don't know where it came from, or what committee this was discussed with, to decide not to replace it, whatever about them not going into the other MDs,' she added. 'I just like to know on what committee this decision emanated from?' Bringing the discussion to a close, Ms Brehony said that Pride crossings had been discussed at a plenary meeting and the decision was 'not to do them going forward as they are not in keeping with legislation', adding that, on the back of that decision, 'we did reach out to Pride committee to give us some guidance on other ways that we could represent the LGBTQIA+ community'.
The Journal
27-05-2025
- The Journal
Ireland's first 'permanent' Pride rainbow road crossing faces erasure due to lack of maintenence
AN ACTIVIST WHO campaigned for Ireland's first ever 'permanent' Pride rainbow crossing has described his local council's decision not to maintain the crossing as 'an act of erasure'. The crossing features prominently on Arklow's Main Street, with two rainbows stretching across the road at the traffic lights in front of the town's post office. The rainbows were painted in December 2021 at a cost of €1,500 following five years of campaigning led by Dave Thomas, filmmaker and co-founder of Wicklow Pride. During the unveiling, Thomas hailed the crossing as 'very symbolic of inclusion and accepting diversity'. Despite this, the local council has decided to allocate no funding towards its maintenance, citing conflicts with road safety compliance. With the Arklow crossing in urgent need of refurbishment, local councillor Peir Leonard raised the issue during the Arklow Municipal District meeting earlier this month. She asked whether the crossing could be included on the road marking list and also enquired about funding that may have been specifically allocated for its repainting. In response, district engineer Avril Hill stated she was not aware of any funding that had been ring-fenced for the project. Hill added that a notice of motion has been passed with regards to 'recognising Pride in the community', and said that the council is 'moving away from Pride crossings towards something else that is more prominent'. Advertisement She went on to say that the crossing is not compliant for people with additional sight needs, and explained that the council is 'not looking to refresh it' as it is not complying with standards. In a statement after the meeting, Dave Thomas said that the lack of funding for maintenance was 'a devastating blow' to the LGBTQIA+ community in Arklow. 'This is not just about paint on a road. It is about what that paint represents – equality, dignity, and recognition,' Thomas said. 'To remove it now, at the start of Pride Month, sends a toxic and deeply harmful message, not just to us here in Arklow, but to LGBTQIA+ people across Ireland. It feels like abandonment.' Thomas added that it is a 'failure' by the local council to 'stand by our community'. The crossing has faced protest from homophobic and far-right groups, including a threat by the so-called 'Proud Boys Ireland' group, who threatened to spill white paint over the crossing in 2022 . 'We cannot allow Ireland's first permanent Pride Rainbow Crossing to be scrubbed from existence. To do so would be an act of erasure, not just of colour on tarmac, but of the lives, identities and contributions of LGBTQIA+ people across this country,' Thomas said. Arklow remains an outlier in Wicklow, as it remains the only town in the county to feature a Pride rainbow crossing. In 2023, Wicklow County Council had voted to to create permanent Pride rainbow crossings in each of its municipal districts, but these have failed to materialise. Council officials have since cited the absence of national legislation as a reason for the delay in installing further crossings across the county. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Decision not to re-paint Arklow Pride crossing a ‘betrayal of LGBTQIA+ community'
Council say crossing doesn't comply with guidelines 'To now backtrack just days before the start of Pride Month sends a damaging message of exclusion and neglect' The man behind Arklow's Pride rainbow crossing has said that Arklow Municipal District's recent decision not to maintain it because it conflicts with current guidelines and legislation represents 'a profound step backwards and a betrayal of the LGBTQIA+ community'. The first permanent rainbow crossing in the Republic of Ireland and the only of its kind in County Wicklow, Arklow's Pride crossing was created in 2021 on the back of years of campaigning by filmmaker, co-founder of the Wicklow Pride Festival and LGBTIQA+ crusader Dave Thomas.
