Cork activist dies after over three decades of service to the community
Lord Mayor Dan Boyle with Siobhán O’Dowd after she received a civic award in recognition of her long-term contributions to community development, inclusion, life long learning, and LGBT+ activism in Cork. Picture: Brian Lougheed
Flags are flying at half-mast above Cork’s City Hall today following the death of an inspirational campaigner and community worker.
Siobhán O’Dowd, who played a key role in several gay rights, equality, and community development campaigns for more than three decades, died peacefully at home in the city last night following a short illness. She was 61.
She died on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia — a movement she helped pioneer in Cork — and just weeks after she was presented with one of the Lord Mayor’s civic awards for 2025.
She was honoured by Lord Mayor councillor Dan Boyle for her long-term contributions to community development, inclusion, lifelong learning, and LGBT+ activism in Cork.
In posts on social media today, former lord mayor councillor John Sheehan described her as “a real inspiration” while former lord mayor and former councillor Mick Finn described her as “an inspirational warrior”.
The Lantern Project at Nano Nagle Place described her as “a champion of the city”.
“Siobhán was a champion in our city in so many ways,” it said.
“Ballyphehane Togher CDP has been a leader in highlighting the importance of community education and helped to put it firmly on political agendas and with her colleagues Siobhán brought many issues to the attention of other change makers.
“Siobhán lived her work, loved her work, and had a deep understanding of the value of accepting and meeting people exactly where they are at.
“Siobhán's leadership, brilliant mind and global vision will be missed.
“As friends and colleagues carry on her important work, they will honour her.”
Sinn Fein TD for Cork South Central Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said activist nearly seems too small a word to capture her.
“She touched the lives of countless people in Cork,” he said.
“She fought for the rights of the LGBT+ community, for equality, for justice.
“One of the things I remember most about her was how hard she and the CDP worked during covid to make sure elderly and vulnerable people in the community were not left isolated.
“It spoke so much about her passion for community.”
Born in Kerry in 1964, Ms O’Dowd moved to Cork in the mid 1980s.
She was one of the founding members of Cork Aids Alliance, a group that included lesbian, gay, and straight people who worked together to address the enormous stigma around Aids and HIV.
She co-chaired the alliance for two years and was later appointed the first full-time co-ordinator of the alliance in 1990.
She worked as a community worker across the city for over 30 years and was the long-time co-ordinator of Ballyphehane Togher Community Development Project.
She was a member of the original steering group which established the Cairde Corcaí/LINC lesbian and bisexual community centre in 1999. Together with Tina O’Toole, she helped obtain EU Equality for Women funding for LINC which helped further its development.
She was also a member of the Cork City LGBT+ InterAgency Group since its inception in 2002 and was appointed chairperson in 2017.
Since 2010 the group has organised an annual Cork LGBT+ Awareness Week, and at the opening of the 2014 week, Cork city became the first place to fly the rainbow flag formally from a civic or public building in Ireland, when organisers and Cork City Council agreed to fly a rainbow flag over City Hall.
In 2018 Cork City signed a 'Rainbow Memorandum' with one one its largest twin cities, San Francisco, and later that year won LGBT Ally of the year award in the national Gala Awards.
In 2020 Cork City became the first city on the island of Ireland to become part of the international Rainbow Cities Network.
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