Limerick Pride 2008

Image by cype_applejuice via Flickr

So it is fast approaching that time of year again...God it seemed like only last week in some memories that Jeff & I had that fateful brunch in Bar3 in Limerick and decided to create a float for Limerick Pride (Old Blog Link via Bebo, as well as here, and here). Well whilst neither of us are residing in Limerick this year, we can rest assured that we can't get dragged into it tooo much this year-until Gina gets hold of us that is.

In the meantime, the gang in Limerick have been planning and preparing for this years Pride and have branded parts of Pride under the Ilovelimerick.com banner. I love the idea, and I also love Limerick so naturally I am biased-I have also been reliably informed that there will be badges available with the ilovelimerick.com logo on it...I have dibs on at least 2 of those! Glad to see my old school mate & current holder of the 'You're A Star' Badge of Honour, Leanne Moore has rolled in behind the events as well as the only true reigning Queens of the Scene, Sheila Fitspatrick(Current AML & AMI) & the fablis Madonna Lucious.

Information about this year's Pride calender can be found @ ilovelimerick.com as well as the Parade Route, Partners and nights out. I will be there on the 13th. Be sure you are too. It will be nice to see another festival in the city for the summer...Still think the Riverfest in the May Bank Hol is too early in the summer to reach its full potential but thats a story for another day.

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A Gay Pride Message

Image via Wikipedia

Pride Season, Irish Style kicked off with a bang last weekend with Cork being the first of th Irish cities to host their Pride parade & events. Dublin Pride will be next followed by Galway, Belfast and finally Limerick(No website as yet) will finish off the summer's festivities. However whilst all are postitive events I want to bring a sense of reality for those of us gearing up for our Pride events here in Ireland and how despite all the crap we all deal with on a daily basis, it pales in comparison to another event which occured at the weekend-Riga Pride.

The First Video is from Cork Pride Parade 2008-yes it is short but you get the idea. Great day, Good Atmosphere(on the most part-see here for a slight negative)

Cork Pride Parade 1st June 2008




Riga Pride Parade 31st May 2008

So while we remember our own battles here in this fair little island, the struggle for further acceptance, the struggle for relationship rights to be accepted, the struggle for our partners to be legally allowed to work here, we also remember that Our Battles are Somebody else's battles also. It links us and provides solidarity for those times when we get disheartened. So Go out, enjoy Pride but remember why we march. It's not just a piss Up. It has a very serious message and one which will constantly need to be reinforced. Considering the week that is in it, with that article, We can see that reinforcing the message of acceptance is still needed.

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