LGBTQ+ Women’s Group Newry have announced the return of a Pride parade to the city.
Due to take place on August 31, the event will "celebrate love, acceptance, and equality".
The Newry Reporter caught up with Daria Ní Fhaoláin and Jenny Deane from the organisers to talk about what's in store.
Due to take place on August 31, the event will "celebrate love, acceptance, and equality".
The Newry Reporter caught up with Daria Ní Fhaoláin and Jenny Deane from the organisers to talk about what's in store.
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00:00 Okay guys, thanks for joining us. We're going to talk about Pride and what's coming up.
00:05 So maybe if you could give everybody a bit of an outline about what's going to be happening
00:08 over the next wee while.
00:09 So we have got very, very good news recently. We've got funding from the Lottery. So the
00:10 National Lottery Community Fund has granted us money to bring back Pride in 2024, which
00:11 is fantastic. We're very excited. So we've gotten a lot of support from the community
00:12 and we're very excited to be able to bring back Pride in 2024.
00:13 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
00:14 back Pride in 2024.
00:15 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
00:16 back Pride in 2024.
00:17 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
00:18 back Pride in 2024.
00:37 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
01:03 back Pride in 2024.
01:32 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
01:39 back Pride in 2024.
01:40 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
01:41 back Pride in 2024.
01:42 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
01:43 back Pride in 2024.
01:44 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
01:45 back Pride in 2024.
01:46 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
01:47 back Pride in 2024.
01:48 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
01:49 back Pride in 2024.
01:50 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
01:51 back Pride in 2024.
01:52 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
02:13 back Pride in 2024.
02:37 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
03:03 back Pride in 2024.
03:10 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
03:25 back Pride in 2024.
03:26 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
03:27 back Pride in 2024.
03:28 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
03:29 back Pride in 2024.
03:30 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
03:31 back Pride in 2024.
03:32 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
03:33 back Pride in 2024.
03:34 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
03:35 back Pride in 2024.
03:36 So we've got a lot of support from the community and we're very excited to be able to bring
03:37 back Pride in 2024.
03:38 Just to have a community and have a place to centre around, have events where you can meet other people to relate to. You need friends, it's about social wellbeing of the LGBT community and of the city to be able to show that we're an inclusive and diverse place. We welcome all kinds of people and it's one day that we all go out for it.
04:03 It's to create a sense of home and a sense of connection and that your roots are here and your connections are here and that's what the women's group has done.
04:12 Whilst we're doing Pride for Everyone, the women's group we set up last August and then we had a few social activities over the last few months of last year and then from January we set up a weekly board games night in a nature location to try and encourage people to come out and get joined.
04:31 Board games are a great way of breaking the ice and our numbers have grown and there's just a really, really nice sense of community and support and everything in that group.
04:43 We've kind of continued on with that and there's some social nights where we're going to gigs during the summer and things like that so it's built a lovely group and then Pride is about building that group and that community but on a bigger sense.
04:57 For everybody, we're kind of women-centric and all different stuff but Pride itself is for all of the community and it just happens that we get to deliver it.
05:07 I think it's important for a city this size to have LGBT representation and events. We had a period of good and I think we took that for granted quite a bit but to be able to bring it back and to do our bit for it would be really, really looking forward to it.
05:26 So if people want to get involved, how can they get involved?
05:28 So at the moment we have loads to do. If you want a job, come to us. At the moment we released Pride's release the other day which has gone out and what we're looking for from the community at the moment is essentially if you would like to volunteer, if you'd like to get involved in the organisation, even if you just want to be a steward on the day and help out in some way, absolutely get in touch.
05:51 If you want to be an admin, tons of admins.
05:54 Loads of admin if you like admin. In terms of community groups and political parties and schools and local businesses, we would love to hear from everyone who wants to get involved. We do have a registration list at the moment so you can register for the parade.
06:09 We are asking for a small donation from businesses if you do want to get involved. The budget compared to Pride's that have come before is starkly different so if you would like to support the local Pride we do have a GoFundMe fundraiser at the moment.
06:35 And sponsorship opportunities for the event itself. So there's plenty to be doing, even just people talking about it, letting people know it's on, making plans to be there, to bring your friends, to just get involved or encourage others to get involved as well.
06:52 And even if all you can do is make the town a bit more colourful by putting up a few flags, happy days, brilliant, we would love that because really what the last few years has been and I think what it's been getting to people is a lack of visibility, a feeling of lack of visibility and inclusion.
07:08 And a lot can be said by supporting Pride, even in just a sense of putting up the new Pride flag or being welcoming on that evening in terms of a venue and engaging with the community.
07:21 And not only poster.
07:23 Yeah, all the marketing. So even sharing the things on social media and stuff like that as well is massive and important to us.
07:31 So just a reminder then of when it's all taking place?
07:33 August 31st.
07:35 August 31st, yeah. So we will have a parade gathering at the Quays around about 12pm.
07:43 And we also plan on having a couple of workshops beforehand in terms of back-road making and things like that to get people involved.
07:51 And there's talk of a Pride fun run as well at some point, with plans to kind of be putting places back together.
07:58 Yeah, so we do have lots of ideas. I don't know how much we can achieve of those ideas based upon time, resources and funding.
08:06 So I suppose the more involved the community gets in supporting, the more we can achieve and we can have a weekend rather than a day essentially.
08:16 Because Belfast, the whole city goes all out for Pride. There's one team that do one thing, but everywhere does its own thing as well.
08:26 And we would love that if other groups run things, if other venues do their own Pride-adjacent events and get the city on board.
08:35 It's a whole day for a big city and it should be the same for Murie.
08:40 And for everyone. Everyone has different interests. We'd love there to be families there, schools there, community groups, political parties, trade unions.
08:51 Absolutely everyone from the community. And that's why we're trying to engage with local businesses and venues around the town.
08:58 So that there is a fun place for everyone to enjoy their day on that day. And lose as much on as possible.
09:05 Perfect.