Proud dads hop on the bus as a surprise for their children
By Mary Dennehy
THERE was a lot of proud people at Pride this year but amongst the proudest were two dads from Firhouse and Clondalkin.
This year in a moving tribute to Pride, Dublin Bus put a colourful double-decker on the road – which saw proud dads surprise their children, who are part of the LGBTQ community, and travel with them to Pride.
Stephen surprises his son Liam
Among the proud dads was Dublin Bus driver Stephen McEvoy from Firhouse, who has been working for the transport company since 1982.
Stephen was behind the wheel of the Proudest Bus, and picked up all of the proud fathers – and brought them to their unsuspecting sons and daughters.
Four years ago, Stephen’s 19-year-old son Liam told his family that he was gay.
“When Liam told us we were delighted,” Stephen told The Echo.
“We were delighted that he told us and that he could be himself around us.
“Some people don’t know how to deal with the news [of a daughter or a son] being gay but [their kids] will be happy, they will lead a happy life.
“It’s all about acceptance and the most important thing is that a person, a child or adult, is able to say it, tell someone.
“The acceptance now for people who are gay is amazing and that gives me some sense of security for Liam, who can be himself.”
Pride was amazing
He added: “Pride in Dublin [recently] was amazing, it was my first year and it was really fantastic.
“We had a great few days, and the whole family was in town.”
Clondalkin dad Des Kavanagh was aboard the bus, and he surprised his son Michael when he parked up outside his son’s house in the Proudest Bus.
Speaking on a short video made by Dublin Bus, which documented the journey to Pride, Des said: “Eight months ago [my daughter] told us she was going to be trans, and two months ago she said she’s changing her name to Michael and from now on she’s going to be he.”
In an emotional moment with Michael in the video, Des said: “I always told you I was proud of you and I always told you I’d support you, let’s go to Pride son.”
In a touching reply back to his dad, Michael just says, “thank you”.
The video of dads picking up their kids for Pride has been viewed close on 800,000 times, with many commenting on the video’s simplicity in celebrating both a parent’s love and a changing Ireland – with many branding it a joy to watch, even if it brings a tear, or two, to the eye.
According to Dublin Bus: “This year at Pride we had the proudest bus in the parade, not because it had the most glitter or flags, but because it had the proudest people, proud dads.”
