My name is Sharon Nolan, I’m originally from Roscommon but I’ve been living in Galway city for almost 10 years by now.
I’m a queer activist and dedicated community volunteer. I was the chairperson for Galway Community Pride 2018, and I’m so proud of how our festivities went last week. The selection of events organised by our volunteers and committee made me so proud, and our Pride Parade on August 18th had the largest attendance of any Galway Pride Parade to date! Thank you to everyone who attended, donated, organised, and supported us in making Galway Community Pride possible this year.
As a bisexual woman, I struggled for years on self-acceptance and later trying to find my feet in the wider LGBT+ community. I found my home and my voice in Bi+ Ireland - a grassroots organisation that supports and builds community spaces for the wider bisexual community across Ireland, and I am proud to be one of the Galway coordinators. Bi+ Ireland was founded in 2013 and has been doing wonderful work across all of Ireland to build a community for bi+ people, while also assisting with education and visibility of the community.
Through the marriage equality referendum and pro-choice campaigning, I also found myself eager to be more politically involved. I’m excited to be a member of the Social Democrats, and I’m secretary of the local Galway West branch. I find it empowering to be working with a political party where the grassroots can have such an impact on the direction of the party, and to be connected with other impactful campaigners across the city and country.
Alongside my volunteer passions, I spend my ‘spare time’ working remotely for a tech company. I’d love to see remote working infrastructure be improved across Ireland. Coworking spaces and better internet access could bring so much work to even the most rural corners of Ireland and could bring new industries to every part of the country.
I love Galway city, and I want to help make this the best city it can be for everyone that comes to it. Let us work to ensure we can welcome everyone with open arms - no matter their age, sexuality, gender, race, class or ability.
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