Mayo Pride was launched in 2017 and marked an incredible twenty-year journey from when the support group Outwest was started in 1997 to a parade through the rainbow decorated streets of Castlebar in 2017.

The goal was to create unity in the community without losing individuality, to encourage diversity without focusing on differences, to promote the beautiful county of Mayo and above all to celebrate the wonderful uniqueness in everyone.

Mayo Pride 2018 promises to be a vibrant, exciting festival for the LGBT+ and wider community.

Mayo Pride describes the need for the festival on their site:

“In rural Ireland communities are small and isolated, often leading to LGBT+ people feeling lonely, unable to live as themselves, finding it difficult to make connections.

“Although the Ireland we live in today is changing and our society as a whole is learning to value diversity, there are still times when being true to yourself seems impossible, and it can look like you are alone in the way you express yourself.”

https://twitter.com/BeLonG_To/status/1019621830359953408

They plan on bringing events across Mayo so they can reach as many communities as possible.

This year’s Mayo Pride festival runs from Friday, July 20 until Sunday, July 22 and it will not disappoint!

If you would like to volunteer for the parade, Mayo Pride is currently looking for stewards, you can call them on 0894049986 if interested.

Anyone interested in helping out at that are on Saturday? We are in need of stewards so anyone who thinks they could lend a hand please pm me! Also please share this thanks everyone ??️‍?

— Mayo Pride (@Mayo_Pride) July 18, 2018

July 20 will be an evening of laughter as comedy night takes place featuring comedians Johny Graham, Therese Cahill, Mags McHugh, Micheal Kierans and Paul Murphy.

Saturday is gay Christmas in Mayo as the day begins with a samba workshop in the Ivy Tower Hotel followed by the big parade which leaves from The Mall at 1.30pm.

In the evening Katherine Lynch takes to the stage with some of the best drag queens out west, Kiki St Clair, Donatella D’Burqa, Cat McPurr, Lily Venom, Silver Ruby and Neon Love. The show is followed by an afterparty and The Ivy Tower with DJ John.

Sundays events are a lot more relaxed with a chill out in the Connaught Bar followed by a climb of Croagh Patrick in the afternoon!

For more information on Mayo Pride, check out their website and Facebook page.