Amach! LGBT Galway have just launched the first LGBT resource centre in the West of Ireland

Based in Galway City, Teach Solais is the West of Ireland’s first LGBT centre. The centre will provide LGBT people with resources as well as act as a meeting point for LGBT support groups.

Teresa Mannion reports from Galway City for RTÉ on the opening of the Teach Solais LGBT centre.

Mannion said that although Amach are getting the new centre ready for it’s opening, the resource centre for LGBT people has attracted attention after it received funds from St. Vincent de Paul society.

“Amach LGBT Galway is putting the finishing touches to a new city centre office this Christmas,” Mannion reported.

“The Teach Solais resource centre attracted controversy when it was allocated €45,000 from the St. Vincent de Paul.

“But the charity said it was in keeping with the charities mission to support vulnerable marginalised people.”

Isolated

Maria Molloy from Amach! LGBT said that her team were delighted to be able to open the LGBT centre in the new year.

“We were very much a grassroots organisation,” Molloy said.

“We have battled and overcome many obstacles in our way and we are delighted that we finally can show that our resource centre is there and we are so happy to be opening it in the new year.”

Speaking about the launch of the Connaught Guide, Rob Partridge from the LGBT Helpline discussed the benefit of such a guide for those living in the West of Ireland.

“It’s vitally important that people have got someone that they can talk to – especially for the rural community in the West of Ireland that can be quite isolated,” Partridge said.

“Amach! LGBT Galway has a strong social media presence,” Mannion said. “And now there’s a physical safe space for people to drop by anytime.”

Watch the RTÉ News report here.

Image: RTÉ