The GAA can confirm that the Association will be officially represented at this year’s Dublin Pride Festival and Parade.

It is the first time that there will be an official GAA involvement at Pride and the representation will be led by one of our top inter-county referees, Meath’s David Gough, when it takes place on June 29.

GAA President John Horan said: “Last February I used my address to GAA Congress to highlight the need for us to show solidarity and respect for members of the LGBTQ+ community who make a contribution to our Association.

“The opportunity to take part in the Dublin Pride Festival and Parade is a follow on from that and I am delighted that we will do so.

“We recently launched a manifesto hailing the GAA as Where We All Belong. This is one way of living up to that assertion, of actions speaking louder than words.

“The challenge for our Association at all times is to be relevant and to try our best to positively reflect society.

“TheGAA is the first national sports body in Ireland to establish a Gender Diversity Committee whose remit is to publish a draft policy document and a discussion paper by the end of this year. This committee met again this week and is progressing its work very well.

“The GAA has a huge presence in Irish life and I am delighted that the Association is committed to making such a positive difference by ensuring that inclusion is prominent in how we operate.”