Armagh All-Ireland winner Mark Shields says coming out as gay was a 'daunting task'

Shields said some of the language used in GAA dressing rooms in the past would have been "hurtful" but the culture is changing.

Mark Shields won an All-Ireland title with Armagh in 2024. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Mark Shields hopes speaking about being a gay inter-county footballer will be of benefit to young Gaelic games players struggling to express their sexuality.

At the GPA's annual Pride Brunch, the 2024 All-Ireland winner with Armagh spoke openly in front of an audience for the first time about being gay. He is the first active male inter-county player to speak about being gay since Cork hurler Donal Óg Cusack.