The Navan Pride Programme of Events
Monday 26th June
Breakfast on Pluto (film), The Solstice Arts Centre, 6.15pm, €10
see solsticeartscentre.ie
Neil Jordan directs. In the 1970s, a young trans woman, Patrick "Kitten" Braden (Cillian Murphy), comes of age by leaving her Irish town for London, in part to look for her mother and in part because her gender identity is beyond the town's understanding.
Navan Pride Speed Quiz, Henry Loughran's pub, 9pm, free entry and prizes
Richie Brogan will host the cheat-free quiz with lots of Pride-related questions and prizes thrown in for good measure. Ensure to download the Speed Quizzing app on arrival and follow the instructions.
Tuesday 27th June
Dating Amber (film), 7.30pm, €10, The Solstice Arts Centre, €10
see solsticeartscentre.ie
Also set in Ireland, Dating Amber is a poignant, honest and funny look at the highs and lows of teenage life where the only way to fit in is to not be yourself, even if this goes against your very being.
Wednesday 28th June
Blue Jean (film), 7,30pm, €10, The Solstice Arts Centre, €10
see solsticeartscentre.ie
England, 1988. New education laws from Thatcher’s government threaten to further stigmatize homosexuality. Jean, recently divorced, is now in a happy relationship with her girlfriend Viv. Jean works as a PE teacher in a secondary school, but there she keeps her sexuality a secret. However, everything changes for her after she’s spotted by a student at a local gay bar.
Sam's Collective Queer Open Mic Night, The Royal Meath, free
This collective have toured the country and hosted a number of fun and fabulous queer nights, with people of all walks of life encouraged to get involved and perform a song, a poem or whatever takes their fancy.
Thursday 29th June
The Breaking Down Barriers talk, 6pm, free but ticketed,
see solsticeartscentre.ie
This free but ticketed event will be MC'd by Meath comedian and actor Fred Cooke, who will bring some levity to proceedings as a range of guest speakers discuss a variety of LGBTQ+ issues.
The panel of guest speakers will also include queer activist, journalist and broadcaster Dil Wickremasinghe, SOSAD Ireland representative and trans rights activist Jacob Donegan, Pádraig Rice who is policy and research manager with LGBT Ireland, Peter Mulligan from Youth Work Ireland Meath, Navan writer journalist and actor Domhnall O'Donoghue, a representative from Switchboard.ie, and more.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (film), 8.15pm, €10
see solsticeartscentre.ie
It's now 50 years old but this camp Gothic musical caper, starring Meat Loaf, Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon, never gets old. It's astounding... and dressing up and singing along is very much encouraged.
Friday 30th June
Pride (film), 6pm, €10
see solsticeartscentre.ie
Based on a true story, set in 1984, this heart-warming tale focuses on a group of LGBTQ+ friends who joined forces with striking miners in Thatcher's Britain to progress both of their causes. Andrew Scott, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Dominic West are among this all-star cast in a film that will make you laugh and cry.
Drag Bingo with Queen CoCo Ri, 8.30pm + DJ set afterwards, €11
see ticketstop.ie
Coco Ri is a Dublin-born drag queen who has been performing on stage for eight years. A George resident on a Tuesday night, she is a high-energy performer that will take any stage.
Enjoy a night of fun and frolics with this witty mistress of ceremonies, who will deliver some punchy lines... and of course lots of prizes on the night.
Saturday 1st July
Navan Pride Parade, 2pm start, gathering at The Solstice Arts Centre at 1.40pm
see navanpride.ie
Join us in walking or spectating for our first ever Pride parade. There will be music, colour and lots of surprises in store.
Kollective + special guests, from 7pm approx, Henry Loughran's pub (outside), free entry
Join the Rainbow after-party n Lockie's afterwards where there will be music playing from early in the evening. There will be some special guests and the headline act will be local band Kollective, who bring their inimitable brand of pop and rock bangers. Followed by some Navan Pride speeches.
*Note: Bundles of three film tickets can be purchased at www.solsticeartscentre.ie for a reduced price of €8 per ticket (€24 in total)