A LETTER READ aloud by radio host Brendan O’Connor on Saturday has been hailed as moving by listeners, and several have gotten in touch with the producers of the show to say it hit a nerve with them.

The letter was written anonymously by a man who said he was in his 50s, married and financially successful with two adult children, but that he regularly thinks of a relationship he had in secret with another man 30 years ago, in “different times”.

Social Democrats TD Padraig Rice was amongst those who reacted, he said that the letter should why we need an Ireland that “embraces equality”. 

The writer was advocating for people to watch the HBO series ‘Heated Rivalry’, which depicts a secret love affair between two rival hockey players in Canada.

This man had lived the real life version of a similar romance.

He opened the letter by saying that he met the other man playing Gaelic football for an opposing team.

The two of them had both gone for the ball but the other man slipped, and then said “go for it” after the writer reclaimed possession, leading him to realise that the slip “was deliberate, but well covered”.

The other player bought him a drink in the clubhouse after the match, and then after the man gave him a lift home, the writer said the man “leaned over to me, gave me a kiss on the side of my face, and said ‘See you, soon, I hope’,”.

That sparked the beginning of a two-and-a-half year relationship that took place mainly in hotels.

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“Remember the times we were in, just like in Heated Rivalry we stayed distant except for an after match drink with the teams, and left separately to meet later,” the writer said.

He added that the experience was “just the greatest friendship” that consisted of “talking, being close” and feeling mutually understood.

Then the other man disappeared one day, and he never saw or heard from him again.

Reflecting back, he said he still thinks of the man every morning, and that most all he misses “being slumped head to head, doing nothing and maybe watching hotel tv, or talking rubbish, but it was our rubbish”.

The writer said that in that time, men sharing a room when they were travelling together was not unusual, and that the two would pretend they were doing “training courses”.

He said that people should watch the popular show “regardless of the sex angle” to understand the relationship between the two characters, so if their child or friend goes through that kind of turmoil they can “understand and help”.

A clip of O’Connor reading the letter has been widely shared on social media, with listeners calling it both beautiful and sad.

Rice, the Social Democrats TD commented: “This is why we need to strive to create an Ireland that embraces equality, diversity and inclusion, a true Republic of equals”.
PJ Kirby, the popular podcaster and TV personality, said: “My heart is in my throat. I’m so grateful for the people before who campaigned for me to be able to be with my fella”.

Brendan O’Connor, reflecting on the reaction to the segment, said that the letter was “extraordinary”.

“Isn’t it amazing the stories people have, the things people carry in life? We’re sure it resonated in different ways with lots of people listening,” he added.

The writer of the letter ended it by saying that he was sure that the man would be able to “find him” again, but that he is not sure that he ever will.

“Hope springs eternal. Thanks for at least reading this, I have now shared, I feel better,” he said.