Introducing our new Executive Director!

PHOTO by DONAL TALBOT. ID: Ruadhán leans against a red wall, wearing a green shirt and smiling.

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Introducing our new Executive Director,

Ruadhán Ó Críodáin

ShoutOut is delighted to announce the successful conclusion of our recruitment process for a new Executive Director and the appointment of Ruadhán Ó Críodáin to the role.

Ruadhán comes to the role with a wealth of experience in activism, development, and communications across the education and arts sectors. Ruadhán has been a part of ShoutOut in various capacities since its foundation, beginning as a student volunteer and graphic designer, and since 2019 as Development Manager.

As Executive Director, Ruadhán will lead ShoutOut into its second decade and continue our work advancing LGBTQI+ inclusion through education in schools, workplaces, sports clubs, and other organisations. ShoutOut will continue to work to develop networks of empowered, passionate allies, and build inclusive and safe spaces for all LGBTQI+ people. LGBTQI+ people still face stigma and discrimination, and we will continue to fight against that in all spaces through education and storytelling of our lived experiences. In the coming years, we will grow and expand our offering to further support schools to end homophobic, biphobic, transphobic & interphobic bullying against LGBTQI+ students, and deepen our workplace programmes to offer companies and capacity-cuilding recipients all the tools they need to build inclusive cultures and services.

Speaking about the role, Ruadhán said:

“ShoutOut has grown so much over the past ten years, thanks to the wonderful people within the organisation; our dedicated volunteers and Steering Committee, our small but hard-working staff team, and our supportive Board of Directors. We’ve been helped every step of the way by schools, workplaces, supporters, and funders who have promoted our mission of LGBTQI+ inclusion through education. We wouldn’t be here without them. I’ve been incredibly lucky to be a part of that story, and it’s a privilege to take on this role and work with these teams to continue our work ensuring that schools and broader society are LGBTQI+ inclusive. I’m looking forward to bringing ShoutOut into a new phase in our second decade, working strategically with our volunteers and team to ensure schools are fully equipped to end homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying for good. If you’re seeking to make your school or workplace more inclusive, we’re here for you.

There’s still so much hostility in the world towards LGBTQI+ people - particularly our trans, non-binary, and intersex siblings - and so much of it is fed by misinformation and an absence of inclusive education. Ireland has shown before that we care deeply about our LGBTQI+ friends and family, and that we can advance equality through storytelling, allyship, and conversation. We have a long way to go, but we’ll keep sharing our stories, and spreading education, until Ireland is a country which celebrates its LGBTQI+ community in all our diversity and strength.”