Tarlach Nepomuceno

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January 2, 2021 · via mobile

An Irish-American Farewell (see Tarlach at 2:38)

The Irish and Irish American communities at large lost a number of remarkable individuals this year. As 2020 comes to an end, the New York Irish Center hopes to keep their memories alive by marking their passing with a performance from the talented Gregor...

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January 2, 2021 · via mobile

Tarlach and his sister-in-law Magda in Moville, Co Donegal, Ireland, with John Hume in 2011. Great memories, RIP ❤

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April 23, 2020

At Joe Sabba Park in Sunnyside with St. Pat's for All committee and Congressman Joe Crowley at tree planting in memory of those who lost their lives during the Easter Rising. with Tom McLougling, Brendan Fay, Mitch Kalaminskiy, Kathleen Walsch D'Arcy

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April 22, 2020

Broadcast from 1984 where young Tarlach speaks about the fight for freedom! Good quality.

Tarlach’s radio broadcast on New York Radio 9th October 1984.

On his return to Belfast from visiting New York in 1984 Tarlach kindly gave me a C90 audio cassette of this broadcast; at the time I did not know why he entr...

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April 17, 2020

The play was nominated for the best Irish drama.

A Queer Ceili at the Marty Forsythe - Kabosh Theatre Company

World Premiere 27th – 30th March 2019 | The Trinity Lodge, Belfast | Presented as part of LGBT History Month and Imagine Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics 2019 Playwright Dominic Montague Director Paula McFetridge Cast Margo: Paula Carson-Lewis Michae

kabosh.net

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April 17, 2020

On that March Sunday, the day the city’s first case of coronavirus was confirmed, the St. Pat’s For All Parade moved joyously through a corner of Queens before ending in the Woodside neighborhood, where organizers gathered for an after-party at the... more

Tarlach MacNiallais, Who Fought for Gay and Disability Rights, D

Mr. MacNiallais helped organize the St. Pat’s For All Parade in Queens, a more inclusive version of the annual parade on Fifth Avenue.

nytimes.com

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April 17, 2020

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April 14, 2020

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April 14, 2020

The 57-year-old, who left north Belfast in the mid-1980s, died on April 1.

"The hardest part is that even if we had wanted to be there with Terry, we couldn't," said Brendan. "This virus is not only robbing us of people we love, it's... more

Coronavirus: Belfast man Terry Nellis dies in US as family say f

More than 3,000 miles from his family, on an intensive care ward in a New York hospital, Terry Nellis listened to the voices from home in his final two hours of life.

belfasttelegraph.co.uk

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April 14, 2020

A great article in remembrance of Tarlach.

Remembering Tarlach Mac Niallais, Taken By COVID-19

Tarlach Mac Niallais, a 57-year-old son of Belfast and an LGBTQ activist and disability rights advocate in New York for more than three decades, died April 1 from complications of the coronavirus.

gaycitynews.com

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April 13, 2020

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April 13, 2020

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April 13, 2020

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April 13, 2020

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April 13, 2020

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April 13, 2020

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April 13, 2020

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April 10, 2020 · via iPhone

02:20

added 4 photo(s) to the memorial :

April 10, 2020

Naira Aslanyan reacted on this.

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April 10, 2020

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April 10, 2020

added 2 photo(s) to the memorial :

April 10, 2020

Tarlach (Brendan according to fB face recognition) with Brendan and a friend

Brendan's tribute to Tarlach for the local newspaper in Northern Ireland

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April 10, 2020

“Our participation in the march this year was truly historic–the first time that a group of people with developmental disabilities have marched in the LGBTQ Pride March in NYC (and possibly anywhere),” Tarlach Nepomuceno, Facility Director of... more

AHRC New York City Celebrates LGBTQ Pride | AHRC New York City

AHRC New York City became one of the developmental disability groups to march in the LGBTQ Pride Parade.

ahrcnyc.org

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April 10, 2020

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April 9, 2020

Kathleen Walsh D'Arcy Co-chair, St. Pat’s for All annual parade in Queens.

With copious tears falling, I try to describe this amazing man, our departed friend Tarlach Mac Niallais, knowing I can’t do him justice.

Here’s my failed attempt. The... more

Irish in America on how they are handling COVID-19 quarantine

Members of the Irish American community in New York for their thoughts on the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they are holding up during these unprecedented times.

irishcentral.com

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April 9, 2020

“Several parts of the play brought me to tears”, agrees Mac Niallais. “Some were happy tears, prompted by memories of events which seemed funny at the time. But there were upsetting memories too. A well of emotions bubbled up, from living here... more

A queer céilí takes pride of place in Belfast

A dramatic reconstruction of a little-known event where it originally happened

irishtimes.com

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April 9, 2020

Hidden Histories: Tarlach Mac Niallais | Newstalk

Covid-19 has claimed more than 8,000 lives in the United States of America thus far - including t...

newstalk.com

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April 9, 2020

Irish American LGBT+ activist Tarlach Mac Niallais passed away on Wednesday after contracting COVID-19.

Born in Belfast, Mac Niallais (57) grew up during the Troubles and became a social justice activist during his time at Queen’s University Belfast.... more

Irish LGBT+ activist Tarlach Mac Niallais passes from COVID-19 •

Tarlach Mac Niallais was an Irish born activist who fought for LGBT+ rights in his native Belfast and later in New York City.

gcn.ie

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April 9, 2020

Please listen to this podcast- it talks about a legendary Irish Gay Activist Tarlach

Hidden Histories - Hidden Histories: Tarlach Mac Niallais - Go..

Covid-19 has claimed more than 8,000 lives in the United States of America thus far - including the life of Tarlach Mac Niallais.Born in Belfast, Mac Niallais was on...

goloudnow.com

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April 9, 2020

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April 9, 2020

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April 9, 2020

Family of north Belfast man who died in New York from coronavirus speak of their 'immense' loss

Family of north Belfast man who died in New York from coronaviru

THE family of a north Belfast-born man who died in the United States from coronavirus have spoken of their "immense" loss.

irishnews.com

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April 9, 2020

Tarlach Mac Niallais, Belfast-born NYC based LGBT activist, passes from Covid-19

Tarlach Mac Niallais, Belfast-born NYC based LGBT activist, pass

A longtime LGBT and social justice activist, he began campaigning on LGBT and Republican prisoners rights issues in Belfast in the early 1980s, in an era when violent attacks against gay men were commonplace.

irishcentral.com

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April 9, 2020

From Tarlach's sister Marie Nellis Burns

Was hoping yesterday was all a bad dream, but I woke up this morning and it hit me like a freight train, my (big) wee brother is really gone. I will miss you so much even though you drove us nuts with your... more

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April 9, 2020

From Tarlach's brother Tony Nellis

Today we, the family and friends of Tarlach MacNiallais stand united and sorrowful in grief for the loss of a giant of a man who has touched the lives of everyone he knew. I am so sorry to his many friends who will... more

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April 9, 2020

Posted by Alla Aslanyan
To know you meant to love you and I will miss you... I will miss your illuminating smile, your bear hugs, your larger then life personality, your amazing sense of humor, your giant heart. You were one of the best humans to ever... more

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April 9, 2020

By Michael Kaplan about his best friend Tarlach Mac Niallais

Because this loss is so intolerable, I wrote this about our friendship, I hope some of these stories bring comfort
My great friend died today. Tarlach was a larger than life sweetheart of a... moreBy Michael Kaplan about his best friend Tarlach Mac Niallais

Because this loss is so intolerable, I wrote this about our friendship, I hope some of these stories bring comfort
My great friend died today. Tarlach was a larger than life sweetheart of a man. At the old Queens workshop there was a sign that was put on his desk bought by the staff, that said in English and Gaelic something like Irishman available for late night parties, sing alongs, drinking companion, That was Tarlach, he loved to have fun, and enjoyed nothing better than a sing along, he had a great voice, and we would sing Beatles songs, (The Two of Us, Across the Universe, Don’t Pass me By, Dear Prudence, You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away), Rolling Stones (Wild Horses), Bob Marley (No Woman No Cry), Harry Chapin., HIS music. He also loved long dirgy ones from Ireland with lots and lots of verses. I remember going camping with him and we were playing hockey and I saw a tape of old Irish ballads and thought he might like it, and he was so insulted, “that’s my dads music”. When I started working with him at the old Queens Workshop, early on myself, Tarlach and Kenny, the other supervisor went out together and shot pool. We had a great time, hugged each other and proclaimed that we were in a “Golden Age”! One night, we went to Strawberry Fields in central park on the anniversary of John Lennons’ death and sang songs with a bunch of people. On the way back a guy standing way down the platform started singing “Up on the Roof”, Tarlach took a verse and the rest is history, he came back to Tarlachs’ place and the party kept going
One time, towards the end of the night, Tarlach, who never wanted the party to end, made us play Bocci to see who among this “golden age” management team would open up the building the next morning. No matter who won, I would always go in and let him decide what he would do. Tarlach had an amazing ability to be your friend and be a supervisor as well. One day, I made a mistake in our petty cash reconciliation, I was over by a few bucks and mistakenly asked if this wasn’t such a bad thing. In no uncertain terms, Tarlach reminded me that the reconciliation should be exact, being over was just as bad as being under. I remember thinking this is the guy I just had a beer with 12 hours ago, but he was able to keep that separation. As the years went by, I had kids, lived an hour and a half away and we saw each other socially less. We would still get together, but we called these times “stolen moments”. I would pick him up and drop him off for the directors’ mtg., and we would have a beer afterwards. One time, I had to go to the DMV and had my guitar and Tarlach with me, let’s just say that that parking lot was treated to a pretty good sing along!
Tarlach was a great director, his staff always had the utmost respect for him. He cared deeply about his staff, and people he supported. He was always looking out for others, and helped many, including myself, sign up for the retirement plan that the agency offered. I remember that if an issue came up, instead of taking an “I’ll get back to you” approach, he would pick up the phone and make the call right then to try to get an answer, things did not sit on Tarlachs’ desk for long. Tarlach was wise and fair and had a great memory for policies and agency history. He always seemed to know the right course of action to take. Many of us called on him to lend some Tarlach “wisdom” when faced with a thorny problem at work. Tarlach was a huge asset to the adult day services department, and was valued and respected by the whole agency. He was routinely tapped to head up the most complicated investigations for the department because they knew he would be through and eminently fair.
Tarlach was a natural at organizing people to have fun, he came to a party at my house last year and had everyone playing Songburst. At a staff meeting last year, he had the group rolling playing a new game where everyone thought of a historical figure and each round got progressively harder, the name would be drawn from a hat and in the first round the “guessee” could use words, next round then one word, than non-verbal, then only by movement. He organized a world cup pool every 4 years, and someone would get a team from the top and bottom 16. Because he was Tarlach (or Terry), he would make the whole process fun. He would organize a get together at a bar the night the teams were chosen by random draw, and invariably make a deal and trade with whoever got Mexico so he could cheer them on. Tarlach was also really competitive, I remember one time myself Kenny and Tarlach were arguing over who could run fastest (Tarlach was a real athlete back in the day). During lunch, we had to go out and have a race. Tarlach also started the departments’ Track and Field meet, which he passed off to me when I came to work under him. In those early years, we had a staff relay that didn’t always model the highest level of sportsmanship. One year, there was some controversy and the race had to be rerun, that was the year that Tarlach pushed himself so hard that he hurt his hamstring that bothered him ever since.
I remember the joy he took in his family, he was always talking about who was coming over or when he was going back to visit. Long before I met anyone, I heard about “Tony”, “Wee Brandon”, “Geri”, Mary, John (Air Traffic Controller), Big G, his Mom, Dad and everyone else. I don’t know how many tours of New York City he gave to family and friends over the years. After hearing about his trips home, I would joke with him that he was like a rock star, touring the country trying to see everyone, everyone wanted a piece of him. He talked about having a sing along in the cave from Game of Thrones, birthday parties, costume parties or visiting the Drumlins. He would always show me pictures, and one thing I’ve appreciated is not only what a big loving group the Mac Niallais clan is, but that you guys know how to have a good time!! I would always remind him to try to get some rest while there, but he was so excited to see his family, he made every moment precious and usually needed a day or two of rest from his “vacation”. He would show me the latest tally of his ongoing scrabble war with Tony, they would play to see who got to 100 games first. Although Tarlach may have won the first round to 100, Tony convinced him that it was really best out of three. He would say that he used to be able to beat Tony in everything, but whether it was running races, or scrabble, one by one Tony outstripped him, he said this with pride and love in his voice He was so proud of the charity work that Tony did in the Phillipines and the scholarships in Mexico.
One great thing that he did was enlist me in setting up a jam for Tony, Brandon and some friends that were visiting. I booked studio time in NYC, rented guitars and bought lots of beer while Tarlach was innocently hanging with the guys at the Molly Wee Pub in NYC. I called Tarlach when things were ready, and he made some excuse to get the guys to come up to the studio. As they entered, expecting to move equipment, I handed each a beer. What followed was a pretty epic jam, I had a learned a few of their favorite songs before so things went great, good craic!
Tarlach had an encyclopedic knowledge of the city and the great places, like Central Park and the highline. He had an encyclopedic mind in general, whether history, policy, languages etc… and was a member of Mensa. He loved etymology and was great with languages, obviously speaking Spanish fluently. We had a linguistic point of contention one time which I obviously lost. It was the lack of an English word for the act of being missing, Tarlach insisted that it was proper to say “go missing” as a verb, I had a problem with this, but couldn’t come up with any better way to say it. Whenever I read something about Northern Ireland, or the UK, or something from the troubles, he would fill me in on the history of some hibernian order or another, and share his and his families experiences with the troubles. We would have lunch and I would sit with him while he did the New York Times crossword puzzle, he loved Will Shortz, the puzzle guy for the New York Times. He was so good at puzzles of all types. I would watch as he was doing a crossword, and stare intently at 5 across, and maybe come up with the answer after a while. By the time I opened my mouth to make a contribution, he was already 3 answers ahead. He competed in several crossword tournaments with the best in the world and did very well. He loved trivia and word puzzles, and was part of a group that would compete regularly at bar trivia nights. He loved geocaching and orienteering (we went once near where I live by an old institution in Kings Park, New York), where one uses GPS to find hidden objects that people leave and post about it. Wherever he was, he might turn on the geocaching app and have an mini adventure right there.
Tarlach was a leader, and a stand up fighter for every issue he believed in. He single-handedly fought for and got domestic partner benefits at AHRC, one of the first agencies to do so. I remember at the time he lamented that the head of human resources whom he was battling was gay himself and was still fighting it. He helped lead the push for LGBTQ people to be able to March in the St. Patricks Day Parade, and was a proud member of the Lavender and Green Society started by his friend Brendan Fay. He also was an organizer for the St. Pats for all parade in Queens which welcomes everyone to march. This year, in addition to marching thanks to him, the people we support were able to get more involved and post flyers throughout the neighborhood promoting the event. He was part of the organizing committee for the NYC St Pats parade and I remember him telling me his job was to go into all the bars along the parade route and roust the folks there to come out to the sidewalk to cheer the paraders on. He was always at a rally or showing up for a cause, whether it was Pride, Black Lives Matter, etc… He always stood up for others and himself, whether it was confronting a taxi driver who would stop for him but balk at taking Kevin or in any other situation. One time we were at a bar watching the world cup, (this was when he was with Kevin). Tarlach being Tarlach made a friend at the bar and after hoisting a few, said, he wanted to introduce him to his lover Kevin. The guy called Tarlach a fag and turned away. Tarlach got in the guys face and confronted him, how come he was good enough to drink with a minute ago, etc… The guy backed down and apologized, but didn’t become an enemy, Tarlach had a way of changing hearts and minds through the sheer force of his personality.
Tarlach loved going to Mexico and visiting with Juans’ family. I remember he bruised his ribs diving for a soccer ball while playing goalie with the kids in the village square. He was like a big kid, enthusiastic, curious and sweet. More than once, while having a few at his “local”, me and Juan would look at each other and tell him he was just a big boy. Tarlach was so happy that Juans’ mom and dad got their visa sorted out, thanks to Juans’ sister and they were able to come and visit them in New York, because it had been a while since Juan had seen them. He loved Juan to death, Juan made him so happy. I would remind Tarlach that he was the lucky one to have someone so kind and loving as Juan.
When he got sick, he called and let me know that he was staying home for 14 days under a self-imposed quarantine. As I knew he loved video games (Final Fantasy) and would be playing a lot, I joked that I hoped he got the “magic sword”, and became “Uberlord” of the realm. He said this the time he was home he would be playing Link, a Zelda game. The last time we spoke was the day before he was going to be intubated and put on a ventilator. He reminded me that I needed to take care of Juan, to help him navigate AHRC Bureaucracy. I confess that I got emotional, he told me I was the best friend to him we said we loved each other, we always did over the last year or so. The next day, Monday, 3/30, he texted he was going on the ventilator, and he passed Wednesday morning at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Tarlach was not only a great man, he was a great friend, brother, and husband. I can only say that I feel lucky to have had the privilege of calling him my friend. less

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April 9, 2020

From Lorcan Otway

Here is Tarlach, back in the 1980s, when the Boston Currach Club said to a reporter from the Boston Herald, what they had said to us, "Keep the N***ers in New York." Thanks to Mayor Flynn, we went, we raced and Tarlach was... more

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April 9, 2020

From Lisa Fane

One of my favorite photos of Tarlach. Marching with the Brooklyn Irish LGBTQ Organization in the Brooklyn Irish American parade after we made history as the first LGBTQ contingent in the parade in 2019. There was not an Irish flag big... more

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April 9, 2020

From Brendan Fay
Remembering Tarlach MacNiallais (1962-2020) - a few images of years of friendship and activism - dancing together at the Eagle Tavern Monday night trad session, getting arrested together on 5th Ave. At Lavender and Green Alliance and... moreFrom Brendan Fay
Remembering Tarlach MacNiallais (1962-2020) - a few images of years of friendship and activism - dancing together at the Eagle Tavern Monday night trad session, getting arrested together on 5th Ave. At Lavender and Green Alliance and ILGO telling stories of his Belfast childhood and with Youth against H- Block and Gays against Imperialism. In 1991 with his ma proudly marching with ILGO and Mayor David Dinkins.... For Pride 91 - he and his beloved Kevin invited a small group to their Queens apt to celebrate their love... They would remain close friends for life... And then getting arrested with him in March 1993... No better company when spending time time in jail. There were songs and stories - of James Connolly and Jim Larkin, of Belfast and Bobby Sands and the men behind the wire... the women of Armagh and the '70s anthem "Proud to Be Gay". How he could sing ! Denied and deprived of time to say good bye ... in tenderness we hold our memories of Tarlach . In heart and mind - we see him smiling, singing, hugging, dancing and advocating passionately. We remember Tarlach’s big hearted and fearless personality lighting up every room and life he entered with warmth and often a song and every street he walked, danced and rallied on. He kept our spirits up in the struggle - for Irish LGBT inclusion in the St Patrick's parade, for immigration rights, for marriage equality... From March 1995-I hear him singing at our Lavender and Green's first OICHE AERACH dinner dance in Flushing with Stanley Rygor playing accordion. He loved our sense of Irish LGBT history- No leprechauns on our walls - but images of Roger Casement, Oscar Wilde, Eva Gore Booth, Elizabeth O'Farrell, David Norris etc In March 1997 his sister Patsy and his mother returned for our 3rd ..dinner dance when along with Colleen Meenan we honored him with the Roger Casement - Eva Gore Booth Leadership award. Patsy and Tarlach sang from the stage. It was such a sweet celebration of his passion for justice and big bear hug tenderness... We honored his dedication to ARCH - for New Yorkers living with disabilities. There was a break of a few years ... except a call for his good friends- brothers who had died of AIDS and could I get Fr Mychal Judge to do a memorial mass for the broken hearted family on Long Island. Years later he joined St. Pat's For All in Queens. We missed him. And in 2016 he helped organize our Lavender and Green contingent on the historic day when we marched with our banner up 5th Ave for the first time.
At the March 2016 press conference to mark the historic breakthrough hosted by Irish Consul General Barbara Jones and Mayor Bill deBlasio - Tarlach with the rest of us celebrated with cheers and tears of joy as remembered the 25 years of longing, struggle and campaign for inclusion. Speaking to his big hearted ways - he reached out - right, left and center - bringing all of us -back together for the historic march and roll across the threshold of 5th Ave. And then only Tarlach MacNiallais- when invited - would become an official member of the 5th Ave parade formation committee. They too grieve and remember with us. Notes have come from Sean Lane, Hilary Beirne and Reilly Dundon. Tarlach MacNiallais- Always ready to reach out across a divide and become. When marriage became legal for same sex couples in New York Tarlach and his beloved Juan - whom he met in 2002 were among the early couples to wed at City Hall. How proud he was to meet marriage equality hero Edie Winsdor and thank her in person and sing our "Wild Mountain Thyme" anthem with Edie and Malachy McCourt on 5th Ave.... I hear him from our 2020 St. Pat's For All concert at the Irish Arts Center as Mick Moloney is singing "Daughters and sons" from the stage. A mere 4 weeks - It feels another world away. With booming voice Tarlach joins the chorus - "you sowed the seeds of freedom in your daughters and your sons...."... Love to all who are heart broken - the friends he loved and cared for at ARCH - his beautiful extended family in Belfast and beyond, his comrades and friends of many struggles- and his beloved spouse Juan. Remembering Tarlach- I think of the words from another Irish immigrant MOTHER JONES- Mary Harris who lost husband George and children to the terrible epidemic of yellow fever -and with her grief carried on - with a fearlessness and passion for justice - "Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living". “Ni bheidh a leitheid ann aris.”. (His likes will not be seen again) . Tarlach MacNiallais - Presente!! (photographs- James Higgins, Amy Miller, Keryn Lowry, Efrain Gonzalez, Ray Hegarty, Tom Moulton, Gary Rissman etc) less