Tens of thousands march in Dublin Pride parade

The 49 people shot dead in a gay club in Orlando earlier this month were remembered on banners and flags at the annual Dublin LGBTQ Pride parade on Saturday.

It was a warm and loud and joyful event, drawing tens of thousands of mostly young people to the streets of the capital for a day of dancing and after parties.

A huge crowd curled almost all the way around Parnell Square before lunchtime as the music pumped out from the float sponsored by one of Dublin’s oldest gay bars, The George.

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Sparkling drag queens mimed and sang along to the dance music and took selfies as they prepared for the parade, waving and blowing kisses to the crowds below.

Thousands of rainbow flags just dared it to rain: large black clouds and a few ominous drops early on gave way to warm and hazy sunshine by the time the first marchers reached Westland Row.

Waiting for the parade to start on Parnell Square, Aidan Kenny of the Teachers' Union of Ireland said he had come along to support all those at the event, particularly after the shootings by Omar Mateen in Orlando on June 12th.

He planned to go to some of the later celebrations with his family, including his son Oisín.

Oisín, from Athy, Co Kildare said he had been at the parade for the last two years and usually ended up somewhere in the middle of it. But today, he was sticking with the family to watch it and support those marching.

“I just think it’s a lovely day out,” he said.

Farther down the street, Sarah Mulhall from Dublin and her fiancée Anthea Feeney from Sligo were also planning to stay around town for the day’s celebrations.

They got engaged last year, just two weeks ahead of the marriage equality referendum in May.

“We said we didn’t want the vote to impact on it,” Ms Mulhall said.

They “definitely” feel a change in the air since the referendum, they both agree.

“You feel a lot better walking down the street knowing that your own public support you. Even the little town that I live in in Sligo - it’s tiny - it got the highest Yes vote,” says Ms Feeney.

“That meant the world to me because it’s where my mum grew up, it’s where my granny was. Everybody is there. That meant everything.”

They will marry in Sligo in December.

On O’Connell Street, Shane Purcell from Naas, Co Kildare, was watching the parade with his friend Nicole Hennessy from Artane in Dublin. Around his shoulders was wrapped a rainbow flag with the words: “Hugs for Orlando.”

“I always join in, but I’m going to watch it this year,” he said.

“It’s the one day a year where everyone comes together and it’s absolutely lovely. You don’t see a day like this. I did take part in it a couple of years but then I kind of found I lost a little fun, and I kind of thought I’d rather watch it than join in.”

He planned a few drinks after the parade but was determined to get home “early enough”.

A pink-bobbed Chiara Grazia from Italy wheeled her baby Daryl J Lemmy in a buggy as she danced alongside the floats as they turned into City Quay after a brief pause at the Custom House.

Her pink sign read: “Being gay is natural. Hating gay is a lifestyle choice.”

Advocacy groups and support organisations for LGBT people, including Glen, TENI, BelongTo, Outhouse and the Gay Switchboard Ireland all flew their banners.

Corporate bodies, including banks, recruitment companies and all the major tech firms were prominently represented, with staff members borne on sponsored floats and occasionally wearing branded t-shirts.

Street traders were doing good business in scarves, hats and rainbow flags, and face paints at “only a euro”.

From a one-day event in 1974, the largest Pride festival in Ireland has grown to become an almost week-long celebration, incorporating arts and cultural events.

Brendan Howlin, Labour spokesman on justice, said the parade was an opportunity for people from all walks of life to come together and celebrate their diversity.

“The recent atrocities in Orlando have shown us that the fight for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) rights is far from over. Orlando reminded us of the importance of Pride, the value in community and the need for solidarity in the face of hate,” he said.

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr Katherine Zappone said her department will lead the development of Ireland first national LGBT strategy for young people.

“Ireland was shown as a beacon of equality with the result of last year’s marriage referendum trending on social media worldwide. It is something we can always be immensely proud of,” she said.

“However as people from across the globe gather for Pride this weekend it is also important to reflect on the barriers and challenges which remain, in particular for younger members of our community.”

On Sunday, members of the LGBT community will hold a ceremony of remembrance at the Oscar Wilde statute on Merrion Square at 6pm, to “remember those that we have lost along our march, for freedom and for equality, and to celebrate their lives”.