Write a comment
Newry's weekend of festivities kicked of with the Pride in Newry Parade and Concert on Saturday.
In the festival's second year it really is putting it's stamp on Newry with a vibrant colourful parade passing through the city.
Commenting on the day Newry Rainbow Community Secretary Damian McKevitt said "What a spectacular success this years Pride in Newry was. We are delighted again that the wider Newry community came out in force to show their support for the LGB and T community. The parade again was a wonderful vibrant showcase of the diversity of communities in Newry and Mourne and reinforces Newrys image as a progressive, tolerant 21st century city."
Newry's first citizen Mayor Mickey Ruane helped carry the Pride in Newry Banner along with Junior Minister Jennifer McCann and Newry Rainbow Community representatives.
The parade was attended by several political parties including representatives from the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) for the first time ever as well as a large attendance from both the SDLP and Sinn Fein.
Many of the provinces Union representatives also took part along with Junior Minister, Jennifer McCann as well as Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland Programme Director of Amnesty International who both spoke at the concert.
Newry Rainbow Community had several floats highlighting different areas of the group, including one for the NRC Women's Group as well as one promoting the groups monthly disco Passion and an extremely professional float based around the Eighteen Arches and the town's "Proud people" decorated by the NRC's Padraig Lynch.
Groups representing the LGB and T communities came from around the province and included the Rainbow Project, Changing Attitude Ireland, Cara Friend, GLYNI and others.
The concert was headlined by past UK Eurovision entrants Scooch who certainly camped up the crowd and sent people home with a smile on their face.
A prime focus of the concert gave an opportunity to many young local talents to display their skills on stage. Newry can certainly be proud of the city's up and coming talent.
{igallery id=2297|cid=195|pid=6|type=category|children=0|addlinks=0|tags=|limit=0}
