Writing & Commentary by Sorcha Rosa
Welcome to the Writing & Commentary archive on Simply Sorcha.
This is where I publish long-form analysis, investigative research, opinion pieces and personal reflections on the issues shaping Ireland today. My work focuses on intersex rights, transgender equality, LGBTQ+ politics, feminism, healthcare, sport, and the growing influence of organised anti-rights movements.
Drawing on lived experience alongside years of advocacy, coaching, public speaking and policy engagement, I examine both the headlines and the structures behind them. Many articles explore how legislation, media narratives, political organisations and public institutions affect marginalised communities, particularly intersex and transgender people.
Alongside political commentary, I also write about cycling, activism, public life, culture and the realities of living openly as an intersex trans woman in Ireland.
Whether analysing parliamentary debates, investigating campaign organisations, documenting community events or sharing personal experiences, the aim remains the same: evidence-led writing that challenges assumptions and encourages informed discussion.
New articles are published regularly.
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BOOBS Was Never Just About Breasts
Sorcha Rosa reflects on appearing in the acclaimed BOOBS documentary and explores feminism, trans visibility and bodily autonomy in modern Ireland.
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From Pilates to Panic Politics: The Wellness Branding of Ireland’s Reactionary Right
South Dublin councillor Linda de Courcy presents herself through wellness branding and “common sense” politics, but her public statements reveal a deeper alignment with anti-trans agitation, anti-immigration rhetoric, and imported culture war politics increasingly shaping Ireland’s reactionary right.
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Why Should Non-Binary Cyclists Have to Lie to Participate?
Sorcha Rosa examines Cycling Ireland’s membership system, non-binary inclusion, and why participation in sport should not require people to misidentify themselves.
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Beyond the Binary: Speaking at Bread & Roses 2026
Sorcha Rosa will speak at Bread & Roses 2026 in Dublin on intersex liberation, bodily autonomy, socialist feminism, and resisting reactionary politics.
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Derek Blighe and the Politics of Dehumanisation
Ireland’s far-right movement has expanded from anti-immigrant agitation into increasingly aggressive attacks on LGBTQIA+ people, particularly trans and intersex communities. Sorcha Rosa examines Derek Blighe, Ireland First, and the politics of dehumanisation.
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They Are Testing Women Again
The IOC’s decision to ban trans women and introduce genetic testing marks a return to sex testing in sport. This article challenges the policy and its impact on trans and intersex athletes.
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What Is a Woman?: The Dog Whistles Behind Ken O’Flynn’s Anti-Trans Campaign
Ken O’Flynn’s rhetoric on transgender issues has moved from parliamentary questions to full culture-war messaging. This article examines the language, alliances, and political strategies behind his anti-trans campaign in Ireland.
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The Fall of Shaun Crowe: How Ireland’s Far-Right Protest Movement Consumed Its Own Frontman
An analysis of Shaun Crowe’s role in the Coolock protests and the fragmentation of Ireland’s anti-immigration movement as former allies turned against one of its most visible activists.
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Anti-Fascism Must Include Bodily Autonomy
I spoke at an anti-fascist teach-in in Dublin on intersex rights, bodily autonomy, and resisting the global anti-rights movement shaping politics across Europe.
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Tights & Fragile Masculinity: Paddy O’Gorman’s War on Trans People
From the Celebrity Farm tights controversy to his post-RTÉ gender-critical campaigning, this article examines Paddy O’Gorman’s reinvention and the politics behind it.