In this deeply powerful episode of Finding Your Pink, I sit down with Emer O’Neill—author, educator, broadcaster, and activist—to explore the lived reality of being Black and Irish.
From her early days as a teacher to becoming a familiar face on RTÉ, Emer shares how one honest video about her experiences changed the course of her life—and led her into activism. But with that visibility came a heavy cost.
Emer speaks openly about the weight of using your voice to challenge bias, the backlash she has faced, and the emotional toll of standing up for what is right. She shares heartbreaking moments from her childhood, the reality of navigating the world on guard, and the everyday experiences—from hair touching to being asked “where are you really from?”—that highlight the deeper issues of race and belonging.
This conversation is not about blame—it’s about awareness. About learning to sit with discomfort, to question what we think we know, and to grow.
At its core, this episode is about humanity. About seeing each other. And about finding compassion in the conversations that matter most.
Emer's Book - https://www.amazon.ie/Same-but-Different-Emer-ONeill/dp/0717192857/ref=sr_1_1?crid=243SCYUIHKGB7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.noOCqCQNrTPeB6ahIuGCDYanIADzQWSmi58bwt8HlLHGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.jJz-mpOdaet0wEzQQTB4GWJ60YxFTyGsMYHNeCSuIXs&dib_tag=se&keywords=emer+o+neill&qid=1776505503&sprefix=emer+o+neill+%2Caps%2C72&sr=8-1
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