Content warning: contains mentions of suicide.
Irish singer Tommy Fleming has publicly come out as gay, describing the experience as finally being able to live “a life that is true and real and just . . . honest” after decades of hiding his identity.
Speaking in an emotional interview on Newstalk’s The Hard Shoulder, the 55-year-old musician from Co Sligo reflected on the pain of suppressing who he was while growing up in an environment where attitudes towards gay people were hostile.
Opening up about the breakdown of his marriage, Fleming said: “For at least ten, 13 years of marriage we were very happy, but small cracks started to appear, mainly from me, and small cracks that were never mended, and with every crack that appeared, there was a new crack and a new crack. And those cracks became a chasm.’’
The singer spoke candidly about the emotional toll of concealing his sexuality for much of his life.“I had been living a lie for all my life really, and the hardest part of that was the energy and the effort it took for this lie to be constantly covered and to be, I suppose, protected and that lie was that I am gay,” he said.
View this post on Instagram
He added, “I am finally living my truth. I am finally being honest, being able to live a life that is true and real and just . . . honest.”
Fleming also revealed that he was treated at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services after attempting to take his own life last September 2025 during what he described as “an overwhelming sense of absolute sadness and hopelessness”.
A private phone conversation involving Fleming, his wife, and their stepdaughter was leaked online recently and sparked widespread speculation. The singer explained that the call was made while he was receiving mental health treatment at St Patrick’s.
During the interview, Fleming also addressed his struggles with addiction and substance abuse, telling Newstalk: “I’m not looking to numb something anymore.’’
The singer ended the conversation on a hopeful and determined note. He said his focus now is firmly on protecting his mental health and cherishing the people closest to him.
“That’s what’s important to me right now,” he said, referring to his family and close friends. Tommy Fleming also confirmed that he fully intends to continue performing and is looking forward to his upcoming tour.
“Oh yeah, I’m absolutely going to perform, it’s the one place I can stand for two and a half hours, and I don’t have to think about anything else,” he said. “That’s the best therapy I’ve ever had.’
If you have been affected by this story or are looking to reach out to someone for support, advice or just to talk, there are numerous services available for LGBTQ+ people, listed below, and many offer instant messaging support.
Samaritans
National LGBT+ Helpline
The Switchboard
Dublin Lesbian Line
Belong To
TENI
Aware
Pieta House
Jigsaw
Mental Health Ireland
Garda Confidential Line
© 2026 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
Support GCN
GCN is a free, vital resource for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community since 1988.
GCN is a trading name of National LGBT Federation CLG, a registered charity - Charity Number: 20034580.
GCN relies on the generous support of the community and allies to sustain the crucial work that we do. Producing GCN is costly, and, in an industry which has been hugely impacted by rising costs, we need your support to help sustain and grow this vital resource.
Supporting GCN for as little as €1.99 per month will help us continue our work as Ireland’s free, independent LGBTQ+ media.