2024 Limerick Pride LGBTQ Festival press launch took place at the Hunt Museum on Tuesday, June 4th. Pictured are representatives of Limerick’s LGBTQAI+ community with Mayor Gerald Mitchell. Picture: Dolf Patjin/ilovelimerick
2024 Limerick Pride LGBTQ Festival takes place Monday, July 8 to Sunday, July 14 with the parade taking place on Saturday, July 13
Lisa Daly, Festival Director of Limerick LGBTQ Pride 2024 said, “We are thrilled to be back and able to offer a fantastic weeklong lineup of events which we will continue to add to our website and socials in the coming weeks. Our theme this year is ‘I Am What I Am’ and we hope to see you showing your support and colours at our annual Pride Parade which will take place on Saturday, July 13 with the PrideFest party directly after the Parade at the Hunt Museum.
When we march up O’Connell Street on Saturday, July 13, we will be marching in honour of those who came before us and laid the path for our freedom. We want to celebrate the power and resiliency of our community.
This year we are celebrating 50 years of the first Pride march that took place in Ireland in June 1974, when a small group of people marched from the Department of Justice in St. Stephen’s Green to the British Embassy to protest, calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland.
The Pride committee is delighted to announce this year’s Grand Marshal is Limerick organisation GOSHH Ireland, a service that provides support, counselling, testing, training, and education for people of diverse genders and sexualities.
Verena Tarpey, CEO of GOSHH Ireland said, “We are delighted to be chosen as the Grand Marshall for Limerick Pride parade this July. It is also fitting that we are celebrating ten years as GOSHH in 2024. It allows us time to reflect on our beginnings as a grassroots organisation in the 1980’s when the Gay Switchboard Limerick was set up by a group of volunteers. Despite having grown and expanded since, the values we hold so dear remain the same – solidarity, identity and belonging. The theme for Limerick Pride this year is ‘I Am What I Am’ and this phrase embraces the philosophy of our team here at GOSHH, we provide a safe and inclusive space for people here in the Midwest.”
Lisa Daly added, “We are delighted to have GOSHH as the Grand Marshal this year, especially marking their 10th anniversary that it felt fitting to acknowledge the work and services they have provided for the Midwest.”
Limerick Pride LGBTQ Festival 2024 will feature a multitude of events from workshops, support meetings and discussions to evenings of music and club nights, to cater to the Pride needs of everyone.
Monday, July 8 the official launch of Limerick Pride will be held at the People’s Museum at 6pm and will include the opening night of the ‘Great Queen’ photography exhibition and ‘Queer Through the Years’, an event celebrating the diverse and vibrant history of the LGBTQ+ movement and culture featuring a discussion with historian Sharon Slater and Adam Long of the National LGBT Federation.
Also on Monday, July 8, Queens of the Night takes place from 8.30pm at McGettigan’s featuring a night of drag performances, audience games, entertainment, and a fun time out. Finger food will be provided on the night followed by DJ. Free entry.
Tuesday, July 9, ‘Understanding Intimate Partner Violence and Coercive Control: The LGBTQ+ context’ with Men’s Aid, takes place in the Hunt Museum from 2.30pm – 4.30pm at the Hunt Museum and this workshop examines the perspective of the LGBTQ+ victim.
Also, on Tuesday, July 9 ‘Pride Fashion Show at Marco Polo’, from 6.30pm features collections from the students at Limerick School of Art and Design, hosted by Elle Uminati and Miss Bliss with a DJ Olivia Chau till late.
Wednesday, July 10, Print with Pride takes place at Limerick Printmakers from 4.30pm – 5.30pm, is a free event where you can bring along your t-shirts, jumpers, tote bags, or simply use some of the paper at the event, to create your own custom Limerick Pride Silk Screen art piece.
Also on Wednesday, July 10, Dance Limerick DL.BRIDGE with Limerick Pride & GOSHH takes place at6pm in Dance Limerick, St. Johns Square for Dance Pride Project. DL Bridge Pride is a contemporary dance project for all LGBTQI+ identifying people. This is a free event for all ages to enjoy. Doors 5.30pm, show starts 6pm. This project is funded by Creative Ireland and Limerick City and County Council through Creative Ireland Made in Limerick 2024.
Also on Wednesday, July 10, Disco Divas at Roller Jam Limerick takes place from 7pm – 9pm in Roller Jam Limerick, City East Retail Park, Ballysimon. Lace up your skates and get ready to dance and roll with the best pride music around. Admission is €10, and prizes on the night for best dressed. Tickets available at the door and online.
Thursday, July 11, Cut Loose with Fannylander takes place from 6.30pm – 8.30pm at Wickham Way. Cut Loose is a zine/collage making workshop which is all about exploring who you are/what you’re into and celebrating it with crafty abandon.. Join Fannylander with a sing along to a playlist of feel-good bangers, bops, and anthems. Tickets are €20 on @fannylander and limerick pride’s socials and include all collage-making materials.
Also on Thursday, July 11, Pressed Flower Workshop with Pressed Flowers by Nell takes place in 101 Limerick from 7pm – 9pm.
Immerse yourself in an evening of fun, friendship, and floral finesse as our talented artists will guide you in creating stunning flower-inspired artworks that represent the beauty and resilience of Love. From colourful blooms to intricate petals, our workshop will be a haven of self-expression and creativity. 10% of ticket sales will be in aid of Shout Out charity.
Also on Thursday, July 11, Proud to Rave at Amber Limerick from 10pm will be kicking off the pride weekend early like never before. Proud to Rave will be the first of its kind, we want to break down walls and open eyes to the fact that we are all equal and we all love to rave.
Friday, July 12, Limerick Pride Youth Party takes place at Lava Javas Youth Cafe, Lower Glentworth Street from 4pm – 8pm. Presented by Limerick Youth Service, young people (14-19yrs) from Limerick and beyond are all invited to enjoy music and meet new people at this free event. The team will also be preparing for Limerick’s Pride Parade which takes place the following day. Registration with GOSHH essential.
Also on Friday, July 12, ‘T’was the night before Pride’, a free entry traditional pre-pride party with street performers, guest DJs and camp classics will take place at Mickey Martins from 8.30pm till close.
Also on Friday, July 12 TGIF with Gowl Haus will be taking to Molly’s 9.30pm till late with drag performances and club
Saturday, July 13, Limerick Pride Parade will bring some extra colour and music to Limerick City Centre, gathering at Merchants Quay, City Hall from 12.20pm for floats, with groups gathering from 1pm. The Parade will leave strictly at 2pm and will make its way up O Connell Street, across Mallow Street to Henry Street, past Arthurs Quay Park, ending at the Hunt Museum. Registration is open and can be found on Limerick Pride’s socials and limerickpride.ie
Following the Parade, PrideFest 2024 at the Hunt Museum from 3pm – 6pm is a showcase of local and national LGBT culture in a lavish marquee in the museum gardens. This is a free family-friendly event with cone van, a cafe and bar on site, free face painting, live music, performances, drag, and plenty of entertainment including the Annual tea Dance with Myles Breen followed by DJ Ruth from the George Dublin. Hosted by Elle Uminati and Eddie Mc Guinness.
Also Saturday, July 13, Milseán Pride Queer Market takes place in Wickham Way from 10am to 3pm.
Also on Saturday, July 13, Limerick Pride Climax Party Ft. Danny Beard takes place at Dolans Warehouse from 9pm with International drag artist and winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Danny Beard headlining a stellar line up including ‘Dragged Up’ with Paul Ryder, Regina George and Pixie hosted by Victoria Secret joined by many more followed by DJ Ruth from the George Dublin. With three floors of music including ‘Saved by the 90s’ upstairs with live drummer, Alter Ego with DJ Olivia Chau in the Kasbah Club. Each venue has a different vibe to it. Ticket includes AAA. Limited number of VIP Danny Beard meet and greet tickets available at Dolans.ie.
This year’s Pride will have many different aspects. Support meetings and free sexual health testing will be held during the week for youth, adult, and trans groups. GOSHH, 18 Davis Street will provide Rapid HIV testing at different points in the week. Call GOSHH at 061 314354 or email info@goshh.ie for more information.
For more information visit LimerickPride.ie and use the hashtag #LimerickPride2024
Read more Limerick Pride news here