Northern Ireland

Street in New York officially named after LGBT rights campaigner from north Belfast

A street in New York has been named after Irish LGBT rights campaigner Tarlach Mac Niallais. Picture from RTÉ
A street in New York has been named after Irish LGBT rights campaigner Tarlach Mac Niallais. Picture from RTÉ A street in New York has been named after Irish LGBT rights campaigner Tarlach Mac Niallais. Picture from RTÉ

A STREET in New York has been officially named after an LGBT rights campaigner from north Belfast.

Tarlach Mac Niallais, who was originally from the Newington area, died in April last year from a Covid-related illness.

At a ceremony in his adopted city on Friday night, 'Tarlach MacNiallais Way' was unveiled as the new name of the junction of 49th Street and 43rd Avenue in Queens, New York.

The street name change was in honour of the 57-year-old's campaigning work.

Mr Mac Niallais had moved to the United States in the 1980s and became involved in the gay rights movement in New York.

He protested against the refusal of the organisers of the city's St Patrick's day parade to allow the LGBT movement to march under their own banners.

The campaign was eventually successful with permission granted in 2016.

Mr Mac Niallais also worked as a social work manager for a project for people with learning difficulties, alongside his community activism.

Tarlach's husband Juan Nepomuceno, sister Marie Burns, brother-in-law Seanie Burns, and Tarlach's nephew Gary Nellis and his wife Natalie were among those due to attend the ceremonial unveiling.

Gary Nellis said: "We're very proud to be here and to be able to thank the people of the city of New York.

"This is an unbelievable honour to be given, to have a street named after you. In a hundred years' time this sign will still be here and it really reinforces Tarlach's legacy."