Navan Pride group presents €2,000 to SOSAD Ireland

Navan Pride promised that 20 per cent of all public donations and private sponsorships would go to the mental health charity SOSAD Ireland, and as a result, members of the Navan Pride committee handed over a cheque for €2,000 to SOSAD Ireland at the charity's Navan branch.

Navan Pride co-chair Patrick Lawlor said: "We are so happy that as part of organising Navan's first Pride festival we were also able to help a valued charity who provide excellent mental health support services in Navan. There are SOSAD clients are from the LGBTQ+ community and so it is very satisfying to be able to give back in this way.

"To all the members of the public and private sponsors, we'd also like to say a big thank-you. As well as helping us to organise a week-long festival and parade - that included paying for insurance, flags, posters, performers, - your money has also gone towards this life-saving charity. At the start of the year we had zero in our account. Now, thanks to the generosity of the people of Navan and local businesses, we look forward to coming back next year with an even bigger Pride event."

Fellow co-chair Clare Nugent said: "It was great to work with a charity like SOSAD. They do invaluable work, including for people in the LGBTQ+ community struggling with mental health difficulties."

SOSAD Ireland general manager Carol Murphy said: "It was a very positive collaboration and it was really great for both of us to be able to support each other. SOSAD takes great pride in being able to support members of the LGBTQ+ community so we were really happy to be part of the first Navan Pride, which was a huge success."