Navan artist announced as ‘Grand Marshall’ of this year's Navan Pride Parade

Navan artist Jordan De Jong is to be the ‘Grand Marshall’ of this year's Navan Pride Parade, it was announced at the recent launched of the Navan Pride Festival at Specsavers in the town.

De Jong co-ordinates the annual art competition at Henry Loughran's public house, and takes over from the inaugural marshall, hairdresser, Richard Casey.

Navan Pride 2024 is a week-long festival of events celebrating diversity and emphasising solidarity with LGBTQ+ family, friends and neighbours in Navan town. There will be an array of events from Monday 8th July, with an event planned for every day of the festival, climaxing with a parade through the town on Saturday 13th.

Events include a 'Speed Quiz' followed by 'Queer-aoke'; 'Breaking Down Barriers', an empowering event focused on inclusivity and understanding, with MC Joe Rooney and guest speakers on the theme of LGBTQ+ visibility; a 'Lunch & Learn' event highlighting important topics such as domestic violence and chem-sex; a screening of 'All of Us Strangers'; and of 'Rocky Horror', 'Drag Bingo', and a 'Midnight Rainbow Party'.

Navan Pride is a not-for-profit community group that aims to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and visibility of this community, bringing together like-minded people supporting individuals being themselves and freely expressing who they are, without fear or negative comment.