Gay Irish hurling star says family have been hurt by homophobic slurs
Dónal Óg Cusack, the hurling star who recently revealed he was gay, has said his mother will not attend his matches because of the homophobic abuse she hears.
Cusack revealed he was gay in installments of his autobiography, published this weekend in the Irish Mail on Sunday.
The 32-year-old, who plays in goal for Cork All Stars, said: “My mother doesn’t go to games anymore. The stress is too much.
“My sister Treasa has been deeply upset a few times by what she has heard.
“I hate what it does to those around me, especially when it doesn’t hurt me at all.”
“Mostly it’s just the same f***ing thing,” he said. “The fellas that want to hurt you will go for the personal stuff. Calling you queer, ingenious stuff like that.”
“It makes no difference to me if you call me Brokeback… and if there are a hundred or a thousand hurlers or rugby players or camogie players out there in their teens, struggling with the idea of what they are, I hope they’ll know that fools with megaphones or runny mouths just don’t count.”
The star said he had been out with both men and women to find out how he felt about his sexuality.
He said: “I went out with nice women and good women, but sure, I still knew. I wanted something else. I get more out of men. I just do. Always have. I know I am different but just in this way. Whatever you may feel about me or who I am, I’ve always been at peace with it.”
Cusack also paid tribute to his teammates, who he said gave their complete support when he told them he was gay.
