Maeve Richardson

b. 1998

she/her

Cork Based Queer Autistic Student Activist

Maeve Richardson is a Cork based queer autistic student activist.

Maeve was born in Tipperary in 1998.

Maeve has been involved in youth activism through organisations such as the Irish Second-level Students’ Union, the National Youth Council of Ireland, UCC Students’ Union and Scouting Ireland. Maeve was elected to the Irish Second level Students’ Union and Tipperary Comhairle na nÓg, ensuring involvement and representation on the first National LGBTI+ Youth Strategy.

In 2015, Maeve alongside two fellow scouts, decided to set up the LGBTQ Scouting Alliance for youth members of Scouting Ireland. This led to Scouting Ireland allowing youth members to march in both Dublin and Cork pride the first time – this was a huge step for the organisation.

As a student in UCC (University College Cork) Maeve was involved with the UCC LGBT Society and was elected UCC Students’ Union’s Equality Officer. She oversaw the long overdue implementation of a Trans Student Policy, allowing students to change their student card to their correct identity. She also led UCC Student Union’s Equality Week in 2018. The UCC Societies Executive marched in the Cork Pride Parade for the first time in 2018.

Maeve was elected as UCC Student Union’s Communications and Engagement Officer in 2021.