LIMERICK Pride Festival is celebrating its 10th year as well as the dedicated LGBTQ agenda – advocacy, advisory and community support for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer identity locally.
The festival is ongoing until Sunday September 11 and the highlight will be the annual Pride Parade leaving City Hall on 12.30pm this Saturday. After the parade, there will be a major public hooley, ‘Block Party’ taking place on the riverbank alongside sponsor Clohessy’s Bar, and Nursery Rhyme singer Edward Reid will close the celebrations. He will perform at La Boutique gay club on Saturday night at Dolan’s Warehouse.
There’s plenty more to this city festival with respect to more conventional matters cultural. PRO Cillian Murphy speaks glowingly of Hunt Museum’s role as facilitator this year, providing a central, beautiful venue for Sunday 11’s fair.
“This will be a family Arts and Crafts fair free to all from 2.30pm to 4pm at the Hunt,” says Cillian. “The Hunt has been fantastic in its support this year, running Queer Tours of the museum midweek for us. Over on Thomas Street at Bat 31 there is an arts exhibition for Pride which is a showcase over three floors by local artists. There are photographs, paintings, visual works, ceramics, a lot of art work. Bat 31 is open daily until Sunday 11”.
See any or all of this before you attend the Géilí (gay céilí, geddit?) at this multi-storey Thomas Street palace of delight. This is a free event to close all activity on Sunday 11, 8pm that platforms live trad music, dancing, jigs, reels, poetry and song. Tea and jam spread on brown, brown bread will keep the party alive, hosted by representatives of Limerick Pride.
Kind thanks to Arts Council for its support in this unique hooley to gladden the spirits.
