Write a commentToday marks the start of the 2015 Pride in Newry Festival. Tonight the festivities begin with a Karaoke night in McGuigans Bar from 9.30pm.
A week of events begin today and culminate in the Pride Parade and Concert this Saturday 22nd August!
This year’s Pride in Newry Parade begins at 2pm at McClelland Park - and with the involvement of more local community groups and businesses than ever, together with lgb&t organisations from throughout Ireland, massive Pride Flags and lots of colourful floats it promises to be spectacular!
Commenting on the parade Damian McKevitt, Secretary Newry Rainbow Community said “While many Pride parades around the world take place against a background of difficulties for lgb&t people, and we recognise that there are still important issues to fight for here like marriage equality, it’s also equally important to celebrate who we are as lgb&t people and to recognise the huge progress our community here in Newry has achieved in recent years. Every year the Pride in Newry Parade gets more vibrant, colourful and spectacular with the emphasis on celebration, and fun, for both participants and spectators!”
From 1pm to 6pm on Saturday McClelland Park hosts a Fun Day for all the family including a fun fair with Dodgems, Hall of Mirrors and many other great attractions, there will also be face painting, entertainers and variety stalls.
Independent Newry City Councillor Kevin McAteer has welcomed the week long pride festival. The young Councillor who successfully brought an equal marriage motion to the Council has also taken the time to commend the organisers of the festival.
Speaking on the event the Independent Councillor said “Every year the pride in Newry festival has been a success bringing the people of Newry together to celebrate equality. I also want to take the opportunity to commend the organisers and wish them the very best of luck in the week ahead. It’s not easy organising a festival of such magnitude but every year pride in Newry gets bigger and better and the organisers deserve praise for that, they are a credit to their community.”
The Pride in Newry Concert begins in McClelland Park at 3pm with genuinely something for everyone in the audience! Hosts Lady Portia Di’Monte and Kevin McAllister will introduce the audience to an incredible line-up of talent - rising stars The Just Adam Band, Orlaith-Rose Comer, Katy Perry tribute Paula K, The Shout, Caolan Dooley and Winner of the Voice of Newry competition, the incredible voice of Sarah Toner! And many more!
Wider festival events this year are more varied and appealing than ever with a Karaoke night, a Pride in Newry walk, Women’s Night, political and trade union events as well as a Pre Pride Passion Disco and the eagerly looked forward to Pride Cabaret Ball that will finish off proceedings on Saturday night in Bellinis.
Speaking about this year’s spectacular Rory Rafferty, Chairman Newry Rainbow Community said “All here at Newry Rainbow Community are tremendously proud of all the people and organisations that have helped make this year’s Pride in Newry the greatest yet. We would especially like to thank Newry Mourne and Down District Council, The Big Lottery Awards for All, Bellinis, Newry Credit Union, The Equality Commission for NI, The Ulster Bank, the Buttercrane Shopping Centre, The Canal Court Hotel, Lush, Identity Graphics, Eventsparkle.com, NIPSA, UNITE, the SDLP, Sinn Féin and Newry.ie”.
Concluding he added “We look forward to seeing the people of Newry and our many visitors out enjoying themselves, showing how truly proud they are of who they are and where they’re from”.
