Gay Pride unable to find politician to open parade

THE organisers of the country’s longest running Gay Pride event will have to deliver their own opening night speeches after failing to find a politician willing to do the honours.

The Galway Pride Festival kicks off in Galway city tonight, marking its 27th anniversary, but unless someone steps into the breach at the last minute, there will be no special guest to officially launch the proceedings.

Galway’s Green Party mayor Niall O’Brolcháin was meant to perform the opening but was called away on other business. The Galway Pride organisers accepted his excuse as genuine but are surprised at how difficult it was to find a replacement.