Bohemian Football Club in partnership with Trinity College Dublin launch the first national study on LGBTQI+ inclusivity in football in Ireland
March 25, 2025
Bohemian Football Club in partnership with Trinity College Dublin have launched the first national study of LGBTQI+ inclusivity in football in Ireland.
LGBTQI+ Inclusivity in Irish Football will examine the experiences of LGBTQI+ people in relation to participation, openness, discrimination and harassment, barriers and positive/protective factors in football settings in the Republic of Ireland.
The inclusion of LGBTQI+ people has progressed substantially in the past number of years with the introduction of the Marriage Equality Act 2015 and the Gender Recognition Act 2015. Alongside legislation, there have been significant efforts made to address LGBTQI+ inequality and promote visibility, health and safety among LGBTQI+ communities.
However, aspects of LGBTQI+ people’s lives undoubtedly fall short of full acceptance and inclusion. Sport, specifically football (soccer) in the context of this research is the area of focus. The ambition of this research is to use the survey results to create policy and training recommendations.
This anonymous research is now open and provides a chance for LGBTQI+ people over 14 to share their experiences of participating in football settings in Ireland today.
Speaking at the launch of the study, Lead Investigator, Dr Matty Kennedy in the School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin said:
“We are delighted to launch the LGBTQI+ Inclusivity in Irish Football research survey. This is an invaluable opportunity to learn about the lived experiences of LGBTQI+ people in football settings in Ireland paying particular attention to the barriers they face to participation and how we can foster a more meaningful climate of inclusivity. It is an honour to be leading this research in collaboration with Bohemian Football Club, a club who has time and time again demonstrated their commitment to social justice for marginalised communities. With this survey, we hope to develop policy and training recommendations based on the findings in order to bolster the participation of LGBTQI+ people in football clubs throughout Ireland.”
Welcoming the research, Co-Chair of the LGBTQI+ Inclusivity in Irish Football Research Working Group and Member of Bohemian FC Pride Committee, Jim McElroy said:
“We are delighted to be announcing the launch of this first-of-its-kind survey into LGBTQI+ inclusivity in football in Ireland. As a fan-owned club, we have a firm belief that football can be a force for good. We’ve been working in recent years to show greater solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community, through the activities of our Pride committee, the work of Bohs in the Community, and in partnership with ShoutOut and the Dublin Devils. We encourage LGBTQI+ people in football to participate in the survey and hope that its findings will help inform policy and practice in football in Ireland in the years ahead.”
Derek O’Neill, League of Ireland Football & Social Responsibility Manager at the Football Association of Ireland, said:
“Inclusivity is a key priority of the FAI’s Social and Environmental Sustainability (SES) strategy. This ethos also extends to the League of Ireland and Bohemian FC has taken an active lead in promoting greater participation in football among the LGBTQI+ community. The club’s Pride on the Pitch project reflects the club’s mission of empowering under-represented groups and ensuring that football can be accessed and enjoyed by everyone. Bohemians have demonstrated their ability to be an inclusive club with Dalymount Park also becoming a more inclusive space for all club fans. The FAI and the League of Ireland Department are fully supportive of the research project which aims to identify barriers to greater participation in football within the LGBTQI+ community and identify meaningful actions to counteract them. Hopefully, the research can provide key learnings which the entire football community can embrace.”
Speaking about the importance of the research as a player, Jamie Farrelly, Dublin Devils Football Club said:
“Growing up as a player and supporter, being LGBTQI+ in football felt like a taboo subject with more talk of tabloid rumours about professional players than LGBTQI+ participation. More often than not, football felt like a lonely space so having a club like Bohemians step up, show leadership and really force the issue of LGBTQ+ inclusion and visibility cannot be underestimated. This is a truly important piece of research that can finally give a voice to LGBTQI+ people’s experience in football.”
The LGBTQI+ Inclusivity in Irish Football study is being conducted by Dr Matty Kennedy (he/they) and Professor Agnes Higgins (she/her) in the School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin. This study is funded by Rethink Ireland through Bohemian Football Club. A wide range of organisations are also working on this study, including other LGBTQI+ organisations.
About the Study
This is the first dedicated quantitative study regarding the climate of LGBTQI+ inclusivity in football settings in Ireland. It aims to explore the specific experiences of LGBTQI+ people in relation to participation, openness, discrimination and harassment, barriers and positive/protective factors in football settings. This study is funded by Rethink Ireland through Bohemian Football Club. A wide range of organisations are also working with us on this study, including other LGBTQI+ organisations. The study is being conducted by Dr Matty Kennedy (he/they) in the School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin.
Bohemian Football Club is a fan-owned, Dublin-based, Irish professional football club, known for its long history and community spirit, playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division
Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin is Ireland’s leading university, ranked No. 1 in Ireland and 87th in the world. The School of Nursing and Midwifery is ranked the number one institution for Nursing in Ireland, 4th in Europe, and 20th worldwide in the 2025.
Survey link:
https://tcdhealthsciences.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cSiBUjjXv16DnQW
