Shane Brennan

Pathology SPR, SB, athletics, my life in active wear

[BUCHANAN: Dublin Time Machine @RobLooseCannon]

On the night of the 9th of September 1982, thirty-one-year-old Declan Flynn left a pub in Donnycarney and walked toward Fairview Park. He was a young man from Whitehall who worked for Aer Rianta. Flynn was sitting on a bench in Fairview Park when five local youths, aged between fourteen and nineteen, descended on him. They were out, as they later put it, to “clean up the area of queers.”

They chased him, beat him unconscious, robbed him and left him for dead on the grass. Flynn was found and brought to Blanchardstown Hospital, but he died within an hour of admission.

When the case came to court in March 1983, it revealed as much about Irish society as it did about the attackers. Justice Seán Gannon gave the five suspended sentences for manslaughter, insisting that “this could never be regarded as murder” and praising the young men for coming from “good homes.” None of them would spend a day in prison for murdering Flynn. Its worth noting tragically in 1992 one of the five who had walked free broke in to a flat in Ballymun and brutally raped a woman. She was seven months pregnant.

The verdict sent a chill through Dublin’s gay community, but also sparked fury. Activist Tonie Walsh later recalled, “Pride grew directly out of the gay-bashing killing of Declan Flynn. There was such a sense of anger at the killing and disbelief that the thugs who killed him would get off scot-free that gay people started to mobilise in a concerted way.”

That mobilisation began almost immediately. After the suspended sentences were handed down, seven hundred people marched from Liberty Hall to Fairview in an event organised by the Dublin Gay Collective. It was not only a protest against Flynn’s killers but a demand for an end to violence against both gays and women, groups equally subject to everyday abuse and indifference.

The visibilty of so many LGBT people on the news, in broad daylight as it were was itself shocking to Irish society. Bonded by their outrage and desire for change, a community was formed.

The event lit the fuse on the Irish Gay Rights movement and that summer the first Dublin Pride took place, more protest than parade. Two hundred brave vanguards of equality marching from St Stephen’s Green to the GPO. Irish Pride was born.

[Donal Brennan @donalb5]

Amazing to see this published with my great friend @lynchielydia identifying a novel target for immunotherapy in ovarian cancer @IJGConline @ESGO_society @IGCSociety @ASCO @cancertrials_ie @IrishCancerSoc @TeamOvary_MSK

[Cathal Dennehy @Cathal_Dennehy]

Huge Irish indoor 1500m record of 4:01.62 from Sarah Healy at the Keely Klassic - she finishes second to training partner and Olympic medallist Georgia Hunter Bell (4:00.63).

Previous record was Healy's at 4:03.83 from Lievin last year.

[World Athletics @WorldAthletics]

One page is all it takes 🎶

The only timetable you need during @Paris2024 🤩

#Paris2024

[AllIrishSport @AllIrishSport]

Stag party / Wedding Day / Day After

@BBCSport

#AllIrelandHurlingFinal

[𝗚𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 @galwaytourism]

You wait all day to see a Galway Hooker boat, then two arrive at once! ⛵️🌤️

#LoveGalway #SummerVibes

[Michael Johnson @MJGold]

Faith Kipyegon is a rabbit for everyone who races with her! Amazing! 👏🏾

[Shane Brennan @Shanebren]

@Fergdam #Fabra

[Glastonbury Live @GlastoLive]

Top pun - mind the iceberg lettuce! RS

[Sharlene @sharlenem229]

Everything I’ve ever dreamed of 🥹💚

European mixed 4x400 champions 😭😭😭

[Derval O'Rourke @DervalORourke]

We are off with the euro champs.
Absolutely love Championship racing
💪💪💪☘️☘️☘️
(The euro 06 champs mug ☕️ for the occasion & nostalgia 🤣)
On @RTE2 this morning. We are in studio this evening on @RTEplayer

[Michael Conroy @michaelconroy]

Thanks @FordePatrick! Really excited to have this trial up and rolling with amazing mentor @vincentlamMD and support from everyone in @HopkinsThoracic

[Danny Boy @Care2much18]

New report from National Cancer Registry Ireland on the incidence of cervical cancer.

Since the introduction of CervicalCheck in 2008 incidence has fallen dramatically.

Just FYI this is the biggest reduction in the rate of cervical cancer in all of Europe since 2008 ☘️

[Finnster 🇶🇦 @finnster1977]

A well deserved drink for these men 💪🇶🇦🏆☝️

[World Athletics @WorldAthletics]

Full mixed 4x400m relay podium ⬇️

🇺🇸 3:10.73 CR 🥇
🇳🇱 3:11.45 🥈
🇮🇪 3:11.53 NR 🥉

#WorldRelays

[Cathal Dennehy @Cathal_Dennehy]

Another massive run from an Irish quartet as the women's 4x400m team smash the national record to win their heat and book their place in Paris, clocking 3:24.38.

Splits:

Sophie Becker: 52.62
Rhasidat Adeleke: 49.48
Phil Healy: 51.30
Sharlene Mawdsley: 50.98