For the first time in two years, Pride will be taking place in person across the country! Here at GCN, we compiled some of the most exciting Irish Pride events to look forward to, and if you don’t see yours listed, be sure to get in touch so we can add it!
Mayo Pride
To kick things off, we have Mayo Pride with an explosion of diversity, inclusivity and colour from July 1 to July 3. The theme for this year is ‘Adventure Edition’, encouraging outdoor activities across Westport.
The weekend line-up has something for everyone to enjoy, including bike rides, a big gay hike and some sea-swimming for the more outdoorsy folks. There will be a Drag Picnic and Family Pride Rave for kids. If that’s not your cupán tae, no worries – there will also be a one-night-only special club night hosted by yours truly, Mother Dublin!
The highly-anticipated Parade will be led by none other than Panti Bliss, so you know this isn’t a weekend to be missed. Get your tickets on the Mayo Pride website.
Skibbereen Pride
Skibbereen Community and Family Resource Centre (CFRC) is hosting a month-long series of events to celebrate Pride titled ‘Skibbereen LGBTI+ Project’. They’re currently hosting a wide array of events from music meet-ups for LGBTQ+ youth and weekly movie nights.
The programme aims to develop support and activities for the LGBTQ+ community and allies and to promote visibility and inclusivity. They are also asking locals to show their support by placing flags in their windows.
Mullingar Pride
As one of the newest Irish Pride events, Mullingar Pride has described itself as “a celebration of queer awareness, culture and entertainment.”. They’ll be showcasing queer history and voices through The Legacy Exhibition on July 12, followed by a theatre performance written by local artists called Queer Stories.
The festivities begin on July 12 with a two-week exhibition open to the public. The Legacy Exhibition will showcase the history of LGBTQ+ people from the local area, and can be found at the Westmeath County Council Buildings Atrium.
Mullingar Pride goes out with a bang with their final event, WERK! It takes place on July 16, spanning the full day. Tickets are available for purchase on their Eventbrite page.
Trans and Intersex Pride
Trans and Intersex Pride Dublin are returning for the first time since 2019. They will be marching on July 16 against the increase of homophobic and transphobic attacks in Dublin.
They are also protesting against the lack of gender-affirming care available in Ireland, forcing many Trans people to travel abroad to receive medically necessary surgery. This includes the nonconsensual surgeries given to intersex babies that result in altered physical and mental health.
Trans and Intersex Pride are calling for all Trans, non-binary, intersex and cis-gendered allies to march alongside them next month.
Dublin Bear Pride
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce9OLC-Nge2/
One of the most loved Irish Pride events, Dublin Bear Pride, will be running a fuzzy, fun-filled weekend from Friday, June 24. The event runs in conjunction with Dublin Pride, happening the same weekend.
It starts off with Bears Downstairs in the Wiley Fox before moving onto Bears Upstairs later that night. Following the parade, Dublin Bears will be having their Pride Party in the Panti Quarter.
The events are open to men of all ages who are Bears, cubs, otters, leather and rubber men. Speaking with GCN, they mentioned their goal at their events is to create an inclusive and safe environment for attendees to let their hair down and enjoy some music.
Donegal Pride
Inishowen Pride is a voluntary community group that came together to organise the first-ever Pride event in Donegal on June 5. Their aim is to celebrate the diversity that exists in our community and to promote a welcoming, safe culture for our LGBTQ+ youth.
Over one thousand people attended the event that was marked by rainbow flags, marchers and community involvement. They received support from other Pride groups, the Irish Red Cross and local schools and community centres. They finished off the parade with guest speakers Eamonn McGee and Nora Stapleton who spoke about the importance of inclusion and diversity.
Limerick Pride
Limerick Pride Festival will be hosting a week-long celebration centred around their theme ‘A Culture of Pride’. They have prepared a unique line-up with a wide variety of events, running from July 4 until July 10 with the Pride parade taking place on July 9.
There will be youth meet-ups, painting workshops, street performers, art exhibitions, theatre and karaoke amongst many other exciting events. Limerick Pride’s Chairperson, Lisa Daly, spoke about the importance of making the Pride line-up inclusive for all, saying: “Events for 2022 reflect the breadth and depth of our LGBTQIA+ community. From the iconic nature of our Pride March to our newer events, we’ve created events with our entire community in mind.”
Queer Asian Pride Ireland
QAPI is launching for the first time ever this Pride season. Co-founder Pradeep Mahadeshwar has spoken on the goals of the organisation, saying that it will be “a dedicated support group of LGBTQ+ people of Asian heritage living in Ireland, and their allies, with a primary goal to create an empowering and non-judgemental platform”.
The group will be open to anyone looking for a space to proudly affirm both their Asian identity as well as their sexual orientation. At present, they are looking to collaborate with other LGBTQ+ groups across Ireland to create an inclusive and safe place for Queer Asian immigrants in Ireland.
QAPI’s priority is to facilitate nationwide survey projects, curate an online shareable document listing various health and social resources and host both online and offline meet-ups.
Wicklow Pride Festival
The Wicklow Pride Festival is planning to hold a fully inclusive event in early July 2023. They are looking for sponsorship and support to make their grand return.
Whilst the group won’t be hosting a local Pride event, for the second year running, co-founder Dave Thomas has asked for support for the LGBTQ+ community in June. Speaking to everyone across Wicklow and beyond, he stated: “This sends a strong message, one filled with love, acceptance, support, encouragement and an acknowledgement that our society stands as one community that is beautifully diverse and wonderfully unique.”
Duleek Pride
As one of the more family-oriented Irish Pride events, Meath Pride will be running T in the Park at Duleek Court House on July 9. The event will be family-friendly with activities ranging from music, face painting, colouring and information about LGBTQ+ for parents and guardians. Entertainment will be provided by the Mornington Vocal Acamedy.
You can donate to Meath Pride’s GoFundMe to help supply all this plus some refreshments throughout the day.
Proud North East
Outcomers has announced its 2022 Pride celebration ‘Proud in the North East’. Organisers are asking business owners and service providers to give visibility to the LGBTQ+ community in Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan by placing a rainbow flag in their front windows.
This visual display will accompany Dundalk’s 15th Pride anniversary. They began as ‘Proud in Louth’ when Covid-19 prevented the celebration of Pride, but due to its success, it has grown to include four other counties.
Flags can be requested for free from Outcomers by emailing [email protected]. Photos will be shared to the Instagram page linked above and can be shared via [email protected].
Dundalk Pride
Dundalk Pride will be hosting a week-long celebration from July 11 to July 16 with a variety of age-friendly Pride events being held for all in the family. It will be run by Outcomers.
They will celebrate the history of Pride, a young LGBTQ+ Pride celebration and a family-friendly Pride fest filled with entertainment and fun.
Foyle Pride
Founded in 1993, Foyle Pride is one of the oldest Irish Pride events in the country. Celebrations will be held from August 22 to 28, with the parade taking place on August 27.
This annual Pride event aims to fight for the rights and representation of LGBTQ+ people living in Derry and increase the visibility of the Derry queer community locally, nationally and internationally.
Cork Pride
Cork Pride will be returning to the streets for a series of in-person events from July 23 to July 31. Its mission is to celebrate the diverse culture of Cork’s LGBTQ+ community with a variety of engaging education, business, civic and cultural activities.
While the 2022 event line-up has yet to be announced, Cork Pride has been staying busy by running its ‘Reaching Out’ series. This exciting initiative is bringing LGBTQ+ people together in Blarney and Ballincollig through new weekly LGBTQ+ group meetups.
Dungarvan
Another Irish Pride newbie, Dungarvan recently made its mark by hosting a selection of fabulous events last weekend! It was held on June 18 from 4pm in Walton Park. To name a few of the activities held, there were youth dance performances, live music, lip-syncing battles and a drag show.
Sligo Pride
Planning for Sligo Pride is well underway! While the committee has yet to publically release the full schedule of events, a Sligo Pride Triathalon has been announced. ‘Tri with Pride’ will include a 6-week training course with accessibility at its core.
The group launched in 2019 with the unofficial ‘Sligo Pride Comeback Tour’ to applaud the spirit of Pride in Sligo and the broader North-West. The aim for the festival was to promote respect, inclusion, diversity and equality.
Waterford Pride
Waterford Pride has officially launched with a fabulous event featuring guest speakers Mayor Joe Kelly, Councillor Mary Roche, Vanessa Lacey and Lady Fifi Foundue amongst others.
The occasion marked the group’s official return after almost two years. They have posted about what we can expect to see during Pride, which will run from August 19 to August 21. There will be comedy, drag, yoga and even a cruise around Waterford’s beautiful coastline. Get your tickets here.
Pride of the Déise
Pride of the Déise is an LGBTQ+ Pride Festival that just hosted its third annual event from June 3 to June 6. They ran a wide variety of Irish Pride events, ranging from a film screening on Friday called Queer Vision to a night of camp performances called ‘Disgraceful Cabaret’.
On Saturday, there was a workshop on consent followed by a podcast recording session. Attendees then marched down to the Block Party before dancing the night away at the Club B takeover.
Sunday had some relaxing Yoga and a child-friendly event hosted by Lady FiFi Fondue, before wrapping up with a Pride Ride and a celebration of rural Irish Pride.
Galway Pride
We Need You! It’s Pride month & 2 months until Galway Community Pride. We're busy organising this year’s events & are looking for volunteers to help us deliver our programme
Apply here: https://t.co/NC5bgGY9s9
For more info, [email protected] with the subject ‘Volunteer’ pic.twitter.com/SUNTOWxxqp— Bród na Gaillimhe (@GalwayPride) June 8, 2022
Galway Pride will be taking place between August 8 to August 14 later this summer. It is being run by Galway Community Pride which is an organisation concerned with LGBTQ+ rights in Galway city and across the country.
While no events have been announced yet, previous years have been jam-packed with events ranging from tea parties, WLW club nights, sea swims, RPG nights and panels addressing a wide range of issues such as disability and reproductive justice.
They’re currently looking for volunteers, if you or someone you know is interested you can apply through the Google Form.
Wexford Pride
Wexford Pride has already hosted celebrations with its second annual ‘Picnic in the Park’. The event took place on May 28 in Min Park, hosting over five hours of live entertainment. Mockie Ah, Vic Kelly, Peer Pleasure and Vistafur (to name a few) performed on the main stage throughout the evening with MC DJ El Stryra.
Mockie Ah also appeared at the Pride after-party for a night of drag, dance and bingo at the Wexford Boat and Tennis Club.
Wexford Pride is keeping the excitement going by running an exhibition of queer artists in the presentation art centre. The show will run from June 12 to July 10 with an artists panel on July 8.
Drogheda Pride
Drogheda Pride is running a wide range of community events and fundraisers, starting with 1ok a day to raise support for LGBTQ+ support in the North East. The campaign will be running throughout the month of June. Another fundraising event will take place on July 2 to support the same charity. A signed jersey from the Drogheda United team will be raffled off – get your ticket here.
A youth drop-in session will run on August 5, running tie-dye stations, board games and face painting throughout. There will be a general drop-in taking place in Drogheda library the next morning, just in time for the Pride Parade at 12pm!
A drag make-up night will also take place on July 31. Tickets are €22 and available here. If that’s not your cup of tea, the acclaimed Cher Tribute Night is happening on July 7. Attendees can pick up VIP meet and greet tickets or general entry.
Carlow Pride
The Carlow Pride parade and festival will be taking place on July 10 in Carlow Town. Organisers are working alongside the Out Mag to collect queer stories, art and poetry with a local connection for a very special issue.
While the event line-up is still being finalised, organisers are promising the best Pride party in Ireland.
Kildare Pride
Kildare Pride is getting into the swing of things by hosting a successful Pride night earlier this month. With special guest Celtic Tigress, the LGBTQ+ social night was a fabulous success! Although no other events have been announced, we’re sure they have some stunning plans in the work.
Tipperary Clonmel Community Pride
Tipperary and Clonmell Community Pride announced that planning was underway for its local Pride events earlier this year. There will be two days of wonderful events for all members of the community, friends, family and allies that will be announced over the coming weeks.
They are currently in the final week of a 4-week walking programme that brought together LGBTQ+ folks together to socialise and get outdoors.
With Dublin Pride taking place this weekend and Irish Pride events continuing across the country for the next two months, the team at GCN hope you stay safe and celebrate no matter where you are in Ireland! If we missed your Pride event let us know.
© 2022 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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