Armagh's Mark Shields, the first male inter-county player to come out as gay in 16 years, has said that he hopes his decision brings courage to others after confirming his retirement from Orchard County duty to RTÉ Sport.
The Whitecross native, now residing in County Louth, announced that he was gay at the Gaelic Players Association's annual Pride brunch in June – the first active male player to do so since Cork’s Dónal Óg Cusack in 2009.
While earlier this year Cusack revealed on the RTÉ series Keys To My Life that he had received death threats in the aftermath of going public, Shields – who told his Armagh team-mates back in 2015 – has said that it has been an entirely positive decision, and he hopes it inspires others in a similar position to feel that can follow his example.
"I’ve had so many messages from people who were struggling and people who were in the same boat as me," Shields told RTÉ Sport.
"Ever since 2015 when I came out to the players, the support in Armagh was second to none. Even the club, my partner and my family, the support has been amazing.
"Thinking about it, I’m quiet and I was never in the media much, but it just took courage from my point of view to come out and say it publicly.
"Ever since I have, the responses have been so supportive."
If the player has one regret, it’s the fact that he didn’t make the decision sooner.
"It was a massive weight off the shoulders," he said.
"A lot of things have moved on as have the perceptions about being involved in a very masculine sport.
"I feel that it has moved on; even picking up little things over the years, the perception of being gay has changed.
"Way back in 2015, I was really nervous about telling the players, but they were amazing and have been amazing.
"Ever since I did announce it publicly, I’ve been getting messages from people who have stopped playing because they were maybe afraid of coming out. It was heart-breaking hearing that, some had moved to England, Australia, I got messages from America.
"Hopefully it has helped someone out there, seeing that you can stay at home basically, you can come out, you can be happy and you can get to the highest level like we did in 2024.
"I hope in ten years’ time, actually a lot sooner than that, that players feel comfortable to come out. Reading about my story will hopefully give them a bit more understanding of it as well."
On the field, Shields’ retirement ensures another exit from Kieran McGeeney’s squad after Stefan Campell, Jemar Hall, Ciaron O’Hanlon and Ciaran Higgins all departed.
Shields was brought into the squad in 2012 under Paddy O’Rourke and made his championship debut the following season. He has been an ever-present in the panel since and was rewarded with a Celtic Cross as Armagh won only their second-ever All-Ireland title in 2024.
While playing time was limited in his latter years with the squad, Shields had earned a reputation for popping up for goals – none more crucial than his extra-time strike against Down in 2019 as Armagh won their first Ulster championship game of the McGeeney era having failed to do so in the previous four seasons.
"When you think of all the selectors, managers, players that have come and gone in that time, it’s been some journey," said the 36-year-old, who made his 100th appearance for the county against Monaghan in 2022.
"I’ve always been of an attacking mind, I always loved getting forward, setting scores up.
"There were times I had to sit back and man-mark, I was given that role, but it’s always nice when you get up to score.
"A couple of goals against Down in the Marshes (Pairc Ésler) stand out [Shields having also scored a goal in the 2017 Ulster loss]. Those are memories you will always look back on."
One memory stands out above all, of course, as Armagh hoisted the Sam Maguire aloft in 2024, especially as he got to share the celebrations with his sister Claire who is a key cog in Armagh GAA’s media team.
"That feeling of just jubilation and excitement, and kind of relief as well.
"To actually walk up the Hogan steps to get to lift Sam Maguire will live long in my memory, something to remember when I get older.
"Taking the cup back to Whitecross and seeing the turn out for that from a small rural club; holding the cup with Claire was just something I’ll always cherish."
Watch Old Leighlin v Portarlington in the Leinster Senior Football Championship on Saturday from 6pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
