SPRING AIR

Lucy Hoods

The sweet smell of spring dances with rich colours through the air to leap through meadows, forests and rivers to touch the sleek scales of a fish or tongue of a lizard. Just a light, a light of life to sooth the hardened flesh of winter. To bring joy, happiness, to cradle the deer and mice. The gaping throats, the bitter ice inside. Many a creature sips the dewy fresh air of spring. It seeps through their tissue and blood sprinkling energy in their bodies.

Quickening pulse gushing a feeling of exhilaration galloping through the marrow of their bones.

Weariness is crushed as green grass leaps in front spreading as one breathing blanket of lushness. Birds flit through, gaining a sample of meat from fat grubs and beetles juicy as berries in the dew. It sweeps though me, the golden air set alight with the patter of feet, the clatter of hooves, the rush of wings swishing through me with life.

SAVE THE SAVE THE POOL: POOL: PROTESTS IN PROTESTS IN PORTLAOISE PORTLAOISE BRIDGET REIDY DUNDON

Portlaoise Leisure Centre has been officially closed since the 15th of June. In a statement made by the board of the Leisure Centre, the building and its services were closed due to “severe financial constraints caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic.” The Leisure Centre has always been severely underfunded by the Council and the pandemic has done nothing to help more money enter the facility’s doors.

Portlaoise Leisure Centre is a huge part of the local community in Portlaoise. It provides swimming lessons to all, and it is home to clubs and schools that use it to teach their members and students to swim; “ The closure would be disastrous for the community. It has

already created anger, sadness and upset amongst hundreds of people from all over.’’ It’s vital to help people’s mental health and physical health. It’s week-long closure has already caused devastation, so imagine what would happen if we continued without such a vital facility in our community.

Each and every member of former Leisure Centre staff makes the Leisure Centre an inclusive, loving and welcoming environment for every person who walks through their doors. Every member of staff, from maintenance to receptionists to managers, are incredible. They're always available for a chat or a bit of banter. There was a protest held on Monday the 22nd of June, a week after its closing, in protest. Trilogy Triathlon Club, Portlaoise Panthers, Laois Water Safety, The Down Syndrome Centre Midlands, and Laois Marlins were represented there. People from all around town and county came to show their support and disapproval of the choice the County Council made.

Speeches were made by former staff members of the facility, and by people from Trilogy Triathlon Club and Laois Marlins. Each speech delivered the same message: save our Leisure Centre. Every single person there was chanting. The messages shouted were ‘SAVE OUR POOL’ and ‘WHAT DO WE WANT?’ ‘SAVE OUR POOL.’ ‘WHEN DO WE WANT IT?’ ‘NOW!’. People were angry but the protest remained peaceful; “the Leisure Centre is so important.. it employs 30 people in Portlaoise.. it gives accessibility to many people to things like... exercise with amazing gym instructors… they might not be able to get anywhere else.’’ The Leisure Centre provides a space like none other in our town. If we lose it, we lose a space that provides, as Ben

Smith says, ‘’a safe, clean and fun place for people of all ages from all types of backgrounds, producing a positive effect on physical and mental wellbeing.’’

An important thing to remember is that public facilities such as monuments and public parks do cost money between construction and maintenance but they are essential for a community. They provide enjoyment, comfort and give a nice view. They can give people much needed breaks, help people make new memories. We need the Leisure Centre for this very reason.

I think we all agree with Ben when he says that the “Council needs to rethink their decision and reopen the centre with funding for the benefit of the whole community.”

Portlaoise Leisure Centre is vital for our community. I grew up in Portlaoise Leisure Centre, as did my brother and I know that if we lose such an amazing facility, new generations will miss out on so much. You and I will miss out on so much. Everyone will miss out on new memories and experiences. Everyone will lose an essential public facility.

Save our pool.

Pride in Ireland: The evolution of LGBT+ rights in our history

Katie Dunne

Pre-20 th Century

Prior to the Anglo-Irish Treaty, Ireland was still governed by UK laws. This included the Offence Against the Persons Act 1861, section 61 of which stated that same-sex relations between men be punished by at least 10 years of imprisonment. These laws were inherited by the new Irish Free State.

1969 - Stonewall Riots

Stonewall Inn in New York, USA and commenced a violent raid. The LGBT+ community had had enough. The LGBT+ community had had enough. Among them was Marsha P. Johnson, a black trans woman, who went on to be a founding member of both the Gay Liberation Front and the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (S.T.A.R.). Following several days of violence and protest, the Gay Liberation Front emerged. Though the Stonewall Riots occurred members of the

in New York, they undoubtedly inspired members of the LGBT+ community around the world to campaign for equal rights, including here in Ireland.

1979 - First Pride Week

The first ever Pride Week in Ireland was held from June 25th to July 1st 1979, and was organised by the newly-founded National Gay Federation. It sought not only to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, but also to draw attention to the hardships faced by the LGBT+ community 49 | Making History

the hardships faced by the LGBT+ community in Ireland.

1983 - Protest of the Murder of Declan Flynn

On the night of the 10th of September 1982, a gay man called Declan Flynn was brutally attacked and beaten in Dublin’s Fairview Park. Flynn later died from his injuries. The five attackers were convicted of manslaughter and were given suspended sentences by Mr. Justice Sean Gannon, and walked free. In response, the largest gay rights march, and first ever pride parade in Ireland, took place on the 19th of March 1983.

1993 - Decriminalisation of Homosexuality

On the 24th of June 1993, the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) 1993 Bill was passed, which finally decriminalised homosexuality in Ireland.

1997 - Dr Lydia Foy Begins Legal Proceedings Against The State

In April 1997 Dr Lydia Foy, a transgender woman from Kildare, initiated High Court proceedings with the Registrar General’s Office. This followed years of unsuccessful correspondence with the Registrar General’s Office after her application for a new birth certificate, reflecting her gender as female, was rejected in 1993.

2003 - BeLonG To Founded

In March 2003, BeLonG To Youth Services was set up.

2006 - Founded TENI

In 2006, the Transgender Equality Network of Ireland was founded.

2015 - Same- Sex Marriage Legalised

On the 22nd of May 2015, Irish voters took to the polls to vote in a referendum to allow same- sex marriage.

2015 - Gender Recognition Act

In July 2015, the Gender Recognition Act was enacted.

2018 - LGBTI+ Youth Strategy

The LGBTI+ Youth Strategy was launched on the 29th of June 2018, which aims to ensure that all LGBTI+ young people are visible, valued and included.