Pride festival in Tipperary's largest town will be a celebration of diversity and inclusion

Above: The Clonmel Pride committee: Back, Alan Fogarty, Gerard Sweetman, James Fitzpatrick, Sarah Fitzpatrick, Orla de Longue, Mary McGarry. Front, Laura Doyle, Lauren Pyke, Stefano Sweetman. Missing from the photo is Emer Lynch. Picture: Ian Hickey

Clonmel Pride has organised a jam-packed one-day Pride festival in Clonmel for this Saturday, August 26.

The organisers say they can’t wait to celebrate with everyone of all ages and show support for the LGBTQ+ community in a day filled with fun, love and equality.

There will be free events throughout the day including breakfast at Bodega 1830 from 10-11.30am; Clonmel’s second Pride Parade (leaving Gordon Place car park at 1pm) and then Pride at the Plaza (from 1.30-4.30pm), a family fun day for all to enjoy and where local talent and groups will perform at the Kickham Barracks Plaza, including five-piece band After Eden and singer and guitarist Sam Dowling.

The festival will conclude with an evening show for over 18s at O’Keeffe’s (admission €10).

The organisers say that Pride is so important for Clonmel to promote diversity and inclusion for all, and to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, their friends and families, all minority groups, all age groups, and visitors and tourists to Clonmel.

The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Standing Together, United and Proud’. Performers and participants will include Neuro Pride Ireland; drag artists Avryll Nitrate, Éire Comme and Jeanie Mac; comedian Shane Callaghan; and for the first time at Clonmel Pride, Sing Along Social.

2023 is the important 30th anniversary of a seminal moment in Ireland’s journey to equality: the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the passing of gay law reform in 1993.

In June the Government published the final report examining disregards for gay men convicted under anti-gay legislation prior to 1993 – a report welcomed by the LGBT+ Restorative Justice Campaign.

“However now, more than ever, we need our allies and the community to come out and stand up for the LGBTQ+ community, because unfortunately some people in Clonmel still experience abuse and many experience fear of rejection,” say organisers.

“Homophobia and transphobia have been on the rise across Ireland over the past two years with people fearing being attacked, including the horrific murders of two men in Sligo last year”.

The organisers say that Pride events are vital to create a happy environment without prejudice for people in Clonmel and this is a focus for Clonmel Pride this year.

In the safe environment of the festival in Clonmel, they will be standing with the LGBTQ+ community to call for law reforms, improved services for trans people and better LGBTQ+ supports, such as the urgent passing of hate crime laws; a safe and accessible holistic national gender service; a ban on conversion therapy; and LGBTQ+ inclusive schools and subjects.

“Pride is a celebration of where we have come in Ireland and the people who have got us where we are today,” says Clonmel Pride co-chairperson Gerard Sweetman.

“But we must always remember that Pride is a protest until LGBTQI+ people can live their true lives without any hate or prejudice.

“We need equality for all here in Ireland and across the world where it is still illegal to be LGBT in many countries.

“Join us at Clonmel Pride as we celebrate, protest and stand united together in love and pride and show that Clonmel is a safe and happy place to be your true self”.

The progressive LGBTQ+ flag will be raised at a number of locations around Clonmel during the week in advance of the festival, including at Tipperary University Hospital and at the council buildings.

The Clonmel Pride Festival is supported by Tipperary County Council’s Festivals and Events Grant Scheme; South Tipperary Development Company; Boston Scientific; Regional Pride Fund: Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride, The Rowan Trust and The One Foundation; Camida; Tesco Clonmel and Clonmel Credit Union.