Missed the event?
Check out the Youtube video below
Sporting Pride are delighted to team up with the inspirational Dublin Front Runners to host a live online interview with Andrew Burke Hannon - a recent leader in RTE’s Operation Transformation and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. This event will be hosted by the wonderful team at Gay Community News as part of their In and Out 2021 festivities and will be streamed live on both their Facebook and Youtube channels. Steven O’Riordan, an award winning documentary director and producer, will lead the interview, taking Andrew through his experience of the show and discussing the importance of running and minding one’s wellbeing.
Andrew fell in love with the sport of running during his time on the show, finishing the OT 5km race in the fastest time ever ran by a leader. He lost an amazing 2 stone and 3 pounds and would like to share his journey to help others who may benefit from hearing his story.
Taking place on Wednesday 21st April 2021 at 19:00, Andrew will talk openly and honestly about his personal experiences, including:
Growing up as a gay man in Ireland
His experience on RTE’s Operation Transformation
His love for the sport of running and how we could benefit from taking part
Karina Murray, Events Coordinator of Sporting Pride, says “Andrew is a fantastic role model for members of the LGBTQ+ community. His story has the power to inspire others who want to take control of their health and wellbeing, and both ourselves and the Dublin Front Runners are looking forward to hearing how running in particular plays a key role in how he manages his wellbeing today”.
To watch this exciting free webinar, go to the live streaming links below on Wednesday 21st April at 19:00.
About the Panel
Steven O’Riordan – Presenter / Runner
Steven O’ Riordan is a Communications Specialist at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. He is an award-winning feature-length documentary producer and director. His works include The Forgotten Maggies (TG4), No Limbs No Limits (RTE) and Born Lucky (BBC). In 2019 he was awarded the Lincoln Recruitment Early Careers Award for his work as a communications specialist within Government and politics. His No. 1 bestselling book “Whispering Hope” was published in 2015. It chronicles the remarkable success he and Magdalene, survivors of institutional abuse, had when they sought and secured a historic state apology in Ireland.
Steven has worked with an array of people, including politicians, NGO’s, schools, universities and leading businesses throughout Ireland, the UK and America, advising and guiding them on how to create and develop better communications to enhance business potential, public sector outputs and NGO campaigning. Steven is a member and active runner with the Dublin Front Runners Club.
Andrew Burke Hannon - Operation Transformation Leader / Runner
Andrew is a 33 year old out and proud gay man living in Dublin with his husband Jason and wonderful parents. He was badly bullied during his school years, a period of his life that was extremely difficult for him. During that time his love for Baton Twirling grew, a sport he is extremely passionate about, resulting in him becoming a champion twirler. 2021 was going to be the year that he finally took control of his health and wellbeing and he signed up to Operation Transformation where he lost an astonishing 2 stone 3lbs. Andrew made history by recording the fastest 5k run by any leader since the show began - 23 minutes and 24 seconds.
Andrew would now like to promote the sport of running to others and says himself that “if I could inspire one person to get up and get involved in some kind of sport I would be over the moon!”.
About the Hosts
Sporting Pride
Founded in 2018, Sporting Pride is Ireland’s sport, fitness and exercise body, tasked with inspiring the LGBTQ+ community to get active. Research shows that 55% of LGBT men and 56% of LGBT women are not active enough to maintain good health, compared with 33% and 45% respectively of the general public. As a member of the EGLSF and the Federation of Gay Games, Sporting Pride also offers LGBTQ+ sports people the opportunity to represent Ireland in international competitions. www.sportingpride.ie
Dublin Front Runners
Dublin Front Runners is an LGBTQ+ inclusive running club that was established in January 2005. Since then its grown to over 200 members, making it Ireland’s largest LGBTQ+ sports group. They cater for all levels, from beginner to long term runner, and their annual couch to 5k programme has taken many LGBTQ+ community members from non runner to athlete in a matter of weeks. They also organise the annual Dublin Pride Run as part of the Dublin Pride festivities and are looking forward to hosting a virtual event in 2021.
GCN
GCN is the national LGBT+ press in Ireland operating since 1988. GCN reflects queer life in Ireland and is delighted to collaborate with Sporting Pride and Dublin Pride to facilitate this vital conversation about the LGBT+ experience in the sports arena and how we can all work together to make sport a more inclusive space and accessible for the LGBT+ community. www.gcn.ie
Sporting Pride Events Contact
Karina Murray: karina.murray@sportingpride.ie
With Thanks to the Bank of Ireland’s Begin Together fund and The Community Foundation of Ireland