CLARE will be showing its pride this weekend with people across the county urged to join together and help celebrate diversity, inclusivity and equality.
ClarePride 2024, a three-day celebration, will take place from this Friday until Sunday with a host of events planned including a Pride march through the streets of Ennis.
Embracing the theme ‘Stronger Together’ this year’s Pride seeks to unite the community through a series of events, performances, and gatherings.
The celebration has been organised by QuareClare, County Clare’s LGBTQIA+ organisation.
Since its inception, the organisation has worked to foster acceptance, create safe spaces, and champion equality throughout the region. According to the group the success of Clare Pride 2023, marked by widespread community engagement, underscored the growing strength and solidarity within the Clare LGBTQIA+ community.
This year’s events are designed to continue that momentum, bringing the community together in celebration, solidarity, and a shared commitment to inclusivity.
“This is going to be a brilliant fun weekend for Clare’s LGBTQIA+ community and for people who we hope will travel from around Ireland to be with us this weekend. We want our community to be visible and connected to the wider community in Clare,” said Bernie O’Gorman of QuareClare.
“We welcome everyone to join us in celebrating diversity, inclusivity and equality. QuareClare’s Pride 2024 celebration is a chance for us to come together as a community, to connect, to have fun and to raise awareness of the issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community in County Clare and beyond.
“Clare Pride 2023 was a big success, with great community engagement that showed the growing strength and solidarity within Clare’s LGBTQIA+ community. This year we’re building on that momentum – it’s an opportunity to show our support for one another, to celebrate our differences, and to continue to work towards a more accepting and inclusive society.”
Highlights of the weekend include a Pride prayer service at St Columba’s Church in Ennis this Friday, and a Queer Poetry Night in glór at 8pm that evening hosted by Sarah Clancy with readings from poets Dr Lauren McNamara, Paul Madden and Katie McCann. The Pride March will be held on Saturday at 12 noon. The assembly point is on Parnell Street between Wood Quay and Carmody Street and participants will march to glór. Upon arrival, the Dance Limerick LGBTQ+ group will perform a short piece outside the venue.
Inside glór, attendees can enjoy performances by the Wild Atlantic Gays, Eoin Burke, Orlaith Kennedy, Drag Storytime with Elle Uminati, and explore various LGBTQIA+ and allied businesses.
A post march gathering will take place from 1pm in Taylor’s which will be exclusively open to Clare Pride participants aged 18+, offering a safe and welcoming environment to all in attendance.
The day will conclude with a Pride after-party. For event details, tickets and RSVPs visit quareclare.ie.
Andrew Hamilton is a journalist, investigative reporter and blogger who has been working in the media in Ireland for the past 20 years. His areas of special interest include the environment, mental health and politics.