Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for taking the time to learn about this campaign and for signing the petition in support. I’ll keep this update brief but important.

The Department of Transport has now confirmed in writing that the legislation currently in place is exactly the same as it was in 2021, when Wicklow County Council installed the first permanent Pride Rainbow Crossing in Arklow. It is also the same legislation that was in place in 2023, when the Council voted to install four additional rainbow crossings across County Wicklow.

In a further statement, the Minister clarified:

“The local authority has sole responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of road markings, and my Department has no function in this regard.”

This clearly confirms that there is no legal barrier to maintaining the Arklow crossing or to proceeding with the other four crossings as promised.

So here’s the problem: despite the Minister’s clarification, Wicklow County Council continues to rely on a false claim that current legislation prevents them from installing rainbow crossings. They have refused to acknowledge their ‘error’ or take corrective action. The question now being asked is: what has changed since 2021? Sadly, the only plausible answer appears to be that Wicklow County Council no longer wants to support the crossing — or, indeed, the LGBTQIA+ community they once claimed to stand with.

We must continue to hold the Council to account for this unacceptable U-turn, particularly at a time when LGBTQIA+ people face growing hostility and hate.

As shown in the attached poster, Wicklow Pride has now withdrawn its support for the Arklow crossing and the LGBTQIA+ community in Arklow. Why? Allegedly, due to close family ties between a member of Wicklow Pride’s Board of Directors and the senior civil servant at Wicklow County Council managing this issue. If true, this is deeply concerning and hugely disappointing.

Please keep sharing the petition and encourage friends, family, and neighbours to sign. My aim is to reach 1,000 signatures by the end of this month so I can formally present it to Wicklow County Council in a renewed effort to reverse their decision.

Thank you again for your incredible support.

Best wishes,

Dave Thomas