Party atmosphere as thousands get out and about for gay pride parade
The city hosted its biggest and best parade to date, the visitors coming from all over the world to join the carnival atmosphere.
A tide of colour, including an array of costumes and a massive 500ft six-colour rainbow gay pride flag, made its way through the city to the sounds of samba bands and live music.
Male and female, young and old showed their solidarity as they marched, dance and sung down O’Connell Street, Dame Street and past Christchurch Cathedral.
Although the parade passed trouble free, it wasn’t for the faint-hearted and one group of elderly shoppers looked stunned as many men taking part showed their feminine side, in flamboyant costume, walking mile after mile in their stilettos.
But, as the thousands marched, thousands more cheered and clapped them on from the footpaths.
Members of the Emerald Warriors RFC, the colourful ladies and gents of the Pink Philippines Irish Association, gay Out and About Hikers, support groups, glamorous dancers, drag acts, sailors and Labour members on board the party’s red double decker bus were among the highlights of the event.
And the party atmosphere continued on Wood Quay with a host of live entertainment.
Donna Tuohy, 27, from Dublin, was among the thousands taking part in the event.
“This is brilliant,” said Donna, who runs Rainbow Finance, Ireland’s first financial company dedicated to the gay and lesbian community.
“I have been coming here for the last four years and this is the biggest yet. We were worried people wouldn’t come out with the weather, but it’s fantastic. There is a fantastic atmosphere.”
Another reveller said: “There is a brilliant carnival atmosphere. It’s the best ever.”
Organiser Paul Byrne estimated that 6,000 people took part in the parade, which came after two weeks of Gay Pride events.
“This is possibly the most successful parade we have staged so far,” he said.
“The parade was full of colour and full of celebrations. It has been so successful, it’s amazing.”
Festival organisers now hope to bid for Euro Pride, which is being held in London next week.
