Limerick Pride Festival kicks off with amazing lineup of events

The 2023 theme is United in Solidarity and events include a range of workshops, musical performances, support meetings and club nights.

Community . Written by Nicole Lee.

Several people pose with Pride flags celebrating the Limerick Pride festival

Kicking off today, July 3, the 2023 Limerick Pride Festival runs until the end of the week and promises an incredible array of events and celebrations. This year’s theme is United in Solidarity, and events include a range of workshops, musical performances, support meetings and club nights.

Lisa Daly, Limerick LGBTQ Pride 2023 Chairperson, said they are thrilled to offer such a fantastic lineup, including the Limerick Pride Parade on Saturday. Participants will gather at Merchants Quay, City Hall at 2pm and will then march down the city centre in a joyous display of rainbow colours.

This year’s Grand Marshall is sporting legend Jackie McCarthy O’Brien, who has played rugby and football for Ireland. During her successful career, O’Brien won 13 international cups with the Republic of Ireland women’s senior soccer.

Richard Lynch, PRO of Limerick Pride, said: “We are beyond honoured that Jackie will be the Limerick Pride Grand Marshal 2023. This year is especially important to our community as it’s the 30th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland and Jackie is a truly inspirational person who has fought for equality her entire life.”

 

Following the parade, the Hunt Museum Gardens will host PrideFest 2023, a showcase of local LGBTQ+ culture. This is a free family-friendly event that offers live music and entertainment, including the fabulous Annual Tea Dance with Myles Breen.

On Saturday evening, the Limerick Pride Climax Party featuring the winner of the first UK RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Vivienne, will take place at Dolans. The incredible performance lineup includes three floors of music with ‘Saved by the 90s’ upstairs, Alter Ego with DJ Olivia Chau in the Kasbah Club, and a DJ set. Tickets for this event are available from €25.00.

Leading up to Saturday, some of the week’s highlights include a 30 Years of Queer History discussion, The Morning After the Life Before play, and a Limerick Pride Youth Party.

The 30 Years of Queer History discussion will be held at the Hunt Museum at 6pm on Tuesday. Historian Sharon Slater, Adam Long of the National LGBT Federation, and Limerick playwright Myles Breen will lead discussions about the 30-year anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland.

A performance of the internationally acclaimed play The Morning After The Life Before, by Ann Blake will begin at 7pm at Dolans Warehouse on Thursday, July 6. The over 14’s show is “a personal, entertaining tale of weddings, ‘coming out’ and arguments over who takes out the bins.”

The Limerick Pride Youth Party is a free event on Friday evening at the Lava Javas Youth Cafe, where youth aged 14-19 are invited to enjoy music and meet new people.

 

Pictured are Adam Long, National LGBT Federation, Richard Lynch, PRO Limerick Pride,Grand Marshal for 2023 Jackie McCarthy O’Brien, Lisa Daly, Chairperson Limerick Pride and Jim Lawless (front) and Charnell Clearwater, Olivia O’Sullivan, Cathaoirleach of the Metropolitan District of Limerick and Lucy Fur (back) pictured at the press launch at the Hunt Museum. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

Additional festival events include Drag Heaven on Monday, a Print with Pride event on Wednesday, and a free T’was the night before the Pride street party on Friday.

This year, the Limerick Pride festival will include support meetings for youth, adult and trans groups and rapid HIV testing will be available at different points throughout the week.

© 2023 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.

Support GCN

GCN has been a vital, free-of-charge information service for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community since 1988.

During this global COVID pandemic, we like many other organisations have been impacted greatly in the way we can do business and produce. This means a temporary pause to our print publication and live events and so now more than ever we need your help to continue providing this community resource digitally.

GCN is a registered charity with a not-for-profit business model and we need your support. If you value having an independent LGBTQ+ media in Ireland, you can help from as little as €1.99 per month. Support Ireland’s free, independent LGBTQ+ media.

0 comments. Please sign in to comment.

Popular News

All News