Loud and colourful celebrations will mark the return of Pride Week to the streets of Galway next week.
Starting from Monday, Galway Community Pride will be celebrating its 32nd year marking the LGBT+ in Galway and the West of Ireland at large.
Last year’s Pride Week celebrations had to go virtual due to the pandemic, but the 2021 festival sees a return of in person events, adapted for COVID safety.
The week will kick off with the raising of the rainbow flag in Eyre Square on Monday, followed by the launch night event later that day, where there will be awards celebrating the LGBT+ community and beyond in Galway.
Matching with health guidelines, this year’s Pride Week will have a strong focus on outdoor events, with some online events that will help to bring people together from afar.
It will combine annual events such as the remembrance Vigil (Wednesday 9pm, Eyre Square) and Queer Women’s Night (Thursday 7pm) with a range of online panels discussing reproductive justice, disability within the LGBT+ community, race & racism, mental health, and sex during a pandemic.
Chair of Pride Owen Hanley said that Pride has something for everyone. “The LGBT+ community like the rest of society has been longing for a chance to get back in person again.”
“Pride is our community’s best campfire, a chance to sit together sharing stories and a laugh.”
“It is a celebration of what we have achieved and a protest for the rights and dignities yet to be won. We hope to see the LGBT+ and allies make the most of the week we have planned.”
Unfortunately, the iconic Pride Parade will not be able to make its way through the city centre this year, so Bród na Gaillimhe will be decamping to Salthill for a day of craic.
The celebrations will kick off with a Pride Swim at Blackrock, then to a community gathering in Salthill Park, and then Pride celebrations in Salthill Village.
Pride will also try to capture the joys of a night out which we’ve all been waiting for. On the Friday night Galway Pride is collaborating with Galway Pro Choice to bring the ‘This Legislation is Shite’ festival in Áras na nGael.
This will be a night of non-stop music that is highlighting the need for better, more inclusive reform of reproductive justice.
Come the weekend, the Dirty Circus will be showcasing the power of empowerment by putting on a show to remember in Nimmo’s Pier as part of the Grand Auld Stretch series of outdoor music and comedy gigs.
Performances of burlesque, comedy, music, pole ,drag, and more than a few surprises will be enjoyed at this special gig.
