Comments on: Taking Dublin Pride 2010 to Tallaght

By: Dublin LGBTQ Pride heading for Merrion Square?

Dublin LGBTQ Pride heading for Merrion Square? — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:20:25 +0000

[...] previous posts on Pride and the venue of the post pride party, alternatives and access and the message being given etc. Yes I’ve tended to talk about this before [...]

By: Pride first timer

Pride first timer — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:49:14 +0000

I am a 33 year old guy and I attended Gay pride for the first time this year. Although I am an out gay man since I was 21 and living in Dublin for most of my life, I just never got round to marching in the parade or getting involved in the festival. But this year I couldn’t wait to march. Personally, I Think the city center is the best option for the gay pride march. The civic amphitheatre is not ideal for the after party and speeches, due to increasing numbers of people participating and I think the park at st patricks cathedral, just down from christchurch, could be an ideal venue for the end of the march. Its a big park, easily accessible, and close to the parade route. In terms of visibility, I spent the whole day and night in dublin on the day of the march and the atmosphere was amazing. It seemed like the whole city center was gay for the day and I never once felt threatened or intimidated, nor did i feel i had to hide my sexuality at all. I understand that more should be done to cater for people living outside of the city center, but perhaps focusing on unity of communites and not division would be better. Personally I don’t see how relocating the event to anywhere outside the city center would address that problem. With all that said, I have to say that possibly for the first time of my life, marching through the city center on the day empowered me to feel proud to be gay. I had never really felt that before and it was truly inspiring. I just hope that one day in the future, I can feel that everyday without fear of homophobia, violence or judgement. One day out of 365 in not enough.

By: Simon Murphy

Simon Murphy — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:04:33 +0000

Well I for one think the Pride Parade in the city centre is pretty special.

O’Connell Street is the main street in Ireland’s biggest city. I think in terms of visibility you cannot get more high profile than that. I agree that Wood Quay is inadequate as it is now too small to contain all the paraders. A bigger location is needed.

As for Tallaght – well I wonder what’s stopping them from holding their own Pride celebration – whether it’s in conjunction with Dublin Pride or not. Tallaght has the same population as Limerick which has had it’s own Pride Parade and festival for several years now.

By: Marie

Marie — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:49:59 +0000

It doesnt take much to expose the anti-working class prejudices of our queer ‘spokespeople’- and this offer does just that.

By: SeanR

SeanR — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:52:36 +0000

Quite so.

There is much about the pride parade that is to be applauded, yet it is sequestered in case “we” might cause offence. I did the ‘march’ once, and found it too exhausting, so I cannot envisage how it could be inclusive of anyone less mobile than I am or elderly, etc. I’m not sure about marching, it might be better to have a festival type approach, with venues, etc. when I marched, there was a real edginess until the troops crossed the Liffey to da southside too, mind you, O’Connell Street isn’t the greatest area.

While the carnival atmosphere is one that is enjoyable, but being corralled in Wood Quay does mean that “Pride” ends up talking to itself when it does need to “come out” as an institution.

So greater visibility and mobility (outside of Dublin/ Dublin bias) would be welcome, and the invite from Tallaght should be considered to enhance the meaning of the parade/mardi gras. Professional conferences move about from venue to venue, so why not?