Navan Pride to return with week-long festival of events
Hannah McNamara
Navan Pride is set to return this July with two local charity partners announced.
Organisers have announced that this year, Meath River Rescue and Meath Women's Refuge and Support Services will receive 10 per cent of their publicly raised funds.
"Last year we raised 20 per cent for Sosad Ireland, so remember that any donation you make is not only going towards the running of our volunteer organised not-for-profit Pride festival, it is also going towards two great charitable causes local to you."
Navan Pride is a week-long festival of events celebrating diversity and emphasising solidarity with LGBTQ+ family, friends and neighbours in Navan town. Their mission is to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and increase visibility of this community. They aim to bring together like-minded people supporting individuals being themselves and freely expressing who they are, without fear or negative comment.
Taking place from 8th until 13th July, the Pride festival is not short of activities and events this Pride month for LGBTQ+ people plus their allies
Beginning on the Monday (8th) there will be a speed quiz and 'queer-aoke' in Henry Loughran's pub from 8pm.
On Tuesday a panel discussion 'Breaking Down Barriers', on the importance of visibility in the LGBTQ+ community will take place with special guests in the Solstice Arts Theatre from 7.30pm. 2023 British romantic fantasy film 'All of us Strangers' will be showing in the Solstice Arts Theatre on the Wednesday with musical comedy horror film 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' showing on the Thursday.
On Friday, 'The Bród, The Bold and The Beautiful' play by Quintessance Theatre Group in association with Outcomers will be on in the Solstice from 7.15pm. A special event will also take place in The Central on the Friday from approximately 9pm.
The main event, the Navan Pride 2024 Festival Parade will take place on the Saturday, starting at the Fair Green from 1pm. A parade after-party with special guests will take place in Henry Loughran's pub, with more announcement to come.
Navan Pride have also announced a range of t-shirts this year to go on sale in the run-up to Pride week.
The Navan Pride Team said: "We are so grateful to all of the businesses, venues and sponsors in the towns who have helped us including our funding partner Meath Co Council.
"The Navan Pride Team is a diverse mix of nationalities, ages and sexualities. Many of our volunteers are allies of the LGBTQ+ community but who know the value of having the diversity in our community in 2024.
"We will be launching our festival in June with our loyal sponsors Specsavers Navan once again. The Central and The Railway Bar will also be hosting a pub quiz and gig fundraisers on 31st May and 7th June."
For more details and further updates visit navanpride.ie or follow their social media accounts; navanpridefestival (Instagram) and Navan Pride (Facebook)