'One in a million': Tributes paid to Cork activist Siobhán O’Dowd 

Respect and dignity for every individual were essential to Siobhán O’Dowd’s mission in life, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said of the late community worker and LGBTQI+ advocate, who passed away at the weekend.

Ms O’Dowd, who had played a central role in numerous equality and community campaigns over several decades, died peacefully at home following a brief illness. She was 61.

Mr Martin said he was deeply saddened at Ms O’Dowd’s passing, describing her as “an outstanding community activist, who was pragmatic, interested in progress, and who achieved a lot, particularly in the Ballyphehane and Togher area”.

“Siobhán was a catalyst for positive change and progression in the community, and in particular in bringing the marginalised into the centre,” he said.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Green Party councillor Dan Boyle, had presented Ms O’Dowd with a civic award only two weeks ago.

“As a community worker and as an LGBTQI+ campaigner, Siobhán has been a major force in making the city more inclusive.

“She leaves a huge legacy and Cork is a better place for her having been in it,” Mr Boyle said.

Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central and minister of state, said he was “devastated” at the news of Ms O’Dowd’s passing.

“What a wonderful person, who made life better for so many people. She was just an incredible person, a champion of social justice and a kind, caring, funny person. I was privileged to know Siobhán,” Mr Buttimer said.

Labour Party senator Laura Harmon described the late Ms O’Dowd as a “titan of equality in Cork and nationally”.

“It was a privilege to see her at the launch of the LGBT+ Awareness Week last week.” 

Pádraig Rice, Social Democrats TD for Cork South Central, described Ms O’Dowd as “one in a million”.

“She had a huge impact on the community in Ballyphehane where she worked, as well as on the wider LGBTQI+ community,” he said.

Labour Party city councillor John Maher said he had spoken with Ms O’Dowd in City Hall only last week.

“Siobhán’s last words to me were ‘Keep up the good fight’,” he said.

A community worker across the city for more than 30 years, she was for many years coordinator of Ballyphehane Togher Community Development Project. 

A founding member of the Cork Aids Alliance, the Cairde Corcaí/LINC lesbian and bisexual community centre, Ms O’Dowd was also a member of the Cork City LGBT+ InterAgency Group.

Since 2010 the group has organised an annual Cork LGBT+ Awareness Week, and in 2014 week, City Hall became the first public building in Ireland to formally fly the rainbow flag.

Paul Moynihan, Cork City Council director of operations, said he had the fondest memories of being with Ms O’Dowd as part of a 2018 delegation to the US to sign a ‘Rainbow Memorandum’ with San Francisco.

“Siobhán was the driving force behind that agreement, and she leaves behind a powerful legacy of inclusion and decency,” he said.

This afternoon, the rainbow flag flew at half-mast above City Hall, while the Lord Mayor led a guard of honour of more than 100 community representatives, gardaí, interagency staff and friends as Ms O’Dowd’s funeral cortege passed by.

Ms O’Dowd is survived by her partner, Tina O’Toole, her family, and a wide circle of friends.