Athy, Co.Kildare, will be having its very first LGBT+ inclusive events in the spirit of Pride on September 20. Though it may not be the scale of a Pride Parade just yet, it is a plan for the organisers:

“We’re working up the parade, but at the minute, we are just focusing on LGBT+ inclusive social events.”

Continuing a strong push from the rural areas of Ireland to celebrate our community, Athy’s very own local pub Clancys will host the town’s first LGBT+ inclusive social event. The night, and many more to come after will feature drag queens, karaoke, drag bingo and numerous other acts. 

“I think having an event/s like this in Athy will do much for the community in the area,” the organiser said. The organiser has previously helped out with Carlow Pride and is now working alongside Aaron King, who had the idea for the event.

Dublin has been a hub of LGBT+ community events for years. This has left many LGBT+ people without access to support, such as healthcare and feeling isolated. In the recent GCN Issue 355, numerous young people from rural areas spoke about their experiences.

With a recent surge of Pride events from rural areas, there is a sign of positive change. This year saw Carlow and a host of other towns celebrate their first Pride as well as a come back for Sligo Pride. 

The reaction to the announcement of Athy’s first LGBT+ inclusive night has been met with a heartwarming response. The event page received over 100 likes on the first day as well as a flood of supportive messages and comments. 

As the organiser said, “Having something like this on people’s home turf would hopefully give them a bit of pride that their hometown is able to host an event like this.”