Celebrating Belonging, Visibility and You
June is Pride Month, a time to recognise and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and to reflect on what inclusion, dignity and belonging truly mean for all of us at Tirlán
At its heart, Pride is about visibility, equality and belonging. It’s about creating a workplace where everyone feels safe, valued and connected, where you can bring your whole self to work, be respected and have your voice heard. While Pride has grown into a global celebration, its purpose remains the same – ensuring that everyone can live and work authentically.
At Tirlán, we don’t want inclusion and belonging to be something we talk about at certain times of the year. Our values are how we live and work every day. When people feel they belong, they do their best work, for themselves, their teams, our farm families and our business. It strengthens wellbeing, collaboration, innovation and ultimately helps us build a stronger co-op, together.
As Karen O’Brien, Head of People Experience, puts it: “When people feel seen, valued and safe to speak openly, we make better decisions, look after each other better and create a culture where everyone can thrive. “
Pride in our communities
Across Ireland and beyond, Pride events bring communities together in celebration, reflection and solidarity. This year, there are lots of opportunities to get involved locally:
- Athlone Pride Parade – 6th June
- Cavan Pride Parade – 13th June
- Drogheda Pride Parade – 19th June
- Kilkenny Pride Festival – 23rd-26th June
- Dublin Pride Parade – 27th June
- Chicago Pride Parade – 28th June
- Wicklow Pride Parade – 4th July
- Laois Pride Parade – 12th September
These moments offer a chance to celebrate diversity in our communities and show visible support for inclusion. Whether you attend a parade, support a local event or simply take a moment to learn more, every action helps build a more inclusive culture.
Ways to get involved at Tirlán
There are lots of ways to mark Pride Month, in ways that feel meaningful to you:
- Show your support with Pride-themed visuals at your site, lanyards or Teams backgrounds
- Take part in learning opportunities and allyship training
- Pride in Action: Building Understanding & Inclusion Together – 10th June 2-3pm
- Being an Ally: Supporting LGBTQ+ Inclusion Every Day – 19th June, 11am-12pm
- Join inclusion and wellbeing webinars from Vhi & Aware
- Connect with colleagues and conversations across the business
- Get involved in our Belonging Employee Resource Group (ERG) – email kaobrien@tirlan.ie for more information.
Inclusion is shaped by everyday actions, small moments that build respect, trust and connection over time.
Building belonging every day
Pride Month is an important reminder that inclusion doesn’t start and stop in June. Each of us has a role to play in creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong.
That might mean:
- Using inclusive, respectful language
- Being curious and open to different experiences
- Speaking up or checking in with a colleague
- Creating space for different voices and perspectives
These everyday behaviours help shape a psychologically safe environment, one where people feel confident, supported and able to thrive.
At Tirlán, this commitment is part of something bigger, a culture grounded in respect, fairness and dignity, where diversity in all its forms makes us stronger as a co-op. Because when we celebrate individuality, we build something stronger, for each other and for the future of Tirlán.
Happy Pride Month 🌈
WIN
Take part in our Pride Quiz to WIN
Test your knowledge of LGBTQ+ history, inclusion and allyship! Celebrate Pride by learning something new and challenging yourself, everyone is welcome to take part. All participants who answer correctly will be entered into a draw to win two tickets to see Michael Bublé in Malahide Castle on 29th of June. The winner will be announced on 19th June.
