Advertisement We need your help now Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open. You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough. If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it. One-off amount I already contribute Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you. An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. Investigates Investigates Money Diaries Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories The crossing was painted in December 2021.Wicklow Pride Festival Ireland's first 'permanent' Pride rainbow road crossing faces erasure due to lack of maintenence Arklow municipal council has said that the current crossing conflicts with current road safety guidelines. 5.29pm, 27 May 2025 Share options AN ACTIVIST WHO campaigned for Ireland’s first ever ‘permanent’ Pride rainbow crossing has described his local council’s decision not to maintain the crossing as “an act of erasure”. The crossing features prominently on Arklow’s Main Street, with two rainbows stretching across the road at the traffic lights in front of the town’s post office. The rainbows were painted in December 2021 at a cost of €1,500 following five years of campaigning led by Dave Thomas, filmmaker and co-founder of Wicklow Pride. During the unveiling, Thomas hailed the crossing as “very symbolic of inclusion and accepting diversity”. Despite this, the local council has decided to allocate no funding towards its maintenance, citing conflicts with road safety compliance. With the Arklow crossing in urgent need of refurbishment, local councillor Peir Leonard raised the issue during the Arklow Municipal District meeting earlier this month. She asked whether the crossing could be included on the road marking list and also enquired about funding that may have been specifically allocated for its repainting. In response, district engineer Avril Hill stated she was not aware of any funding that had been ring-fenced for the project. Hill added that a notice of motion has been passed with regards to “recognising Pride in the community”, and said that the council is “moving away from Pride crossings towards something else that is more prominent”. Advertisement She went on to say that the crossing is not compliant for people with additional sight needs, and explained that the council is “not looking to refresh it” as it is not complying with standards. In a statement after the meeting, Dave Thomas said that the lack of funding for maintenance was “a devastating blow” to the LGBTQIA+ community in Arklow. “This is not just about paint on a road. It is about what that paint represents – equality, dignity, and recognition,” Thomas said. “To remove it now, at the start of Pride Month, sends a toxic and deeply harmful message, not just to us here in Arklow, but to LGBTQIA+ people across Ireland. It feels like abandonment.” Thomas added that it is a “failure” by the local council to “stand by our community”. The crossing has faced protest from homophobic and far-right groups, including a threat by the so-called ‘Proud Boys Ireland’ group, who threatened to spill white paint over the crossing in 2022. “We cannot allow Ireland’s first permanent Pride Rainbow Crossing to be scrubbed from existence. To do so would be an act of erasure, not just of colour on tarmac, but of the lives, identities and contributions of LGBTQIA+ people across this country,” Thomas said. Arklow remains an outlier in Wicklow, as it remains the only town in the county to feature a Pride rainbow crossing. In 2023, Wicklow County Council had voted to to create permanent Pride rainbow crossings in each of its municipal districts, but these have failed to materialise. Council officials have since cited the absence of national legislation as a reason for the delay in installing further crossings across the county. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Support The Journal Andrew Walsh Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “Ireland's first 'permanent' Pride rainbow road crossing faces erasure due to lack of maintenence”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “Ireland's first 'permanent' Pride rainbow road crossing faces erasure due to lack of maintenence”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting this comment. Please give full details of the problem with the comment... pride crossing Road Safety News in 60 seconds Man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder over Liverpool parade crash Discrimination School ordered to pay €9,000 to male student discriminated against for wearing one earring Debunked: How misinformation swirled about the Liverpool car ramming despite police efforts 34 mins ago Further Education The government has announced the free college courses on offer for the next academic year 38 mins ago housing committee 'A bad idea': Central Bank and ESRI push back against calls for reintroduction of 100% mortgages 48 mins ago Evening Wrap The 5 at 5: Tuesday 48 mins ago Jury begins deliberations in Richard Satchwell murder trial 27 people hospitalised after car struck pedestrians at Liverpool Premier League victory parade North Island New Zealand teenager dies after taking part in rugby-inspired craze cold war of words Kremlin says Trump 'emotional' after US President called Putin 'absolutely crazy' over Ukraine strikes Premier League 'Big question' is how car that rammed people was on street after parade, Liverpool mayor says more from us Investigates Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine Money Diaries The Journal TV Journal Media Advertise With Us About FactCheck Our Network FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition more from us TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Journal Media Advertise With Us Our Network The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition © 2025 Journal Media Ltd Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition Switch to Desktop Switch to Mobile The Journal supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at https://www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1800 208 080 or email: mailto:info@presscouncil.ie Report an error, omission or problem: Your Email (optional) Create Email Alert Create an email alert based on the current article Email Address One email every morning As soon as new articles come online