Mayor of Navan, Cllr Eddie Fennessy, is joined by Navan Pride Committee members, and Martin Murray, Fiona Fallon and Kieran Kehoe of Meath County Council for the rainbow bench unveiling in Navan’s Blackwater Park on Monday morning.

Rainbow bench unveiling marks start of Pride Festival

Parade takes place in town on Saturday

John Donohoe

Published: Fri 12 Jul 2024, 5:04 PM

A rainbow bench to celebrate and recognise the LGBTQ+ people in the town of Navan and county was unveiled at Blackwater Park in Navan on Monday morning, marking the start of the Navan Pride Festival. The second Pride festival comes just over a year after a homophobic attack in the town gained national and international attention, and led to an anti-hate rally being organised in the town in solidarity with the victim.

Navan Pride co-chair, Patrick Lawlor said: "This installation by Meath County Council, proposed by Cllr Eddie Fennessy and supported by his fellow councillors, will mean a lot to the LGBTQ+ people of Navan. In one of our busiest parks will now sit a vibrant display that sends the correct message that LGBTQ+ people are part of our community and we will not tolerate homophobia or hate in this town.

"As we kick off our week of festivities in the run-up to our parade on Saturday, we feel that there is an even greater support for our festival from the people of Navan than the first time round," Mr Lawlor continued.

"It is a credit to the council and indeed the volunteers of Navan Pride who have worked hard to improve LGBTQ+ visibility in the town and to create safe spaces for our increasingly diverse community."

Cllr Fennessy said: "The Navan Pride Festival was launched today with a Rainbow Bench unveiling at the Blackwater Park. The bench is a symbol of Navan's continued support for our brothers and sisters from the LGBTQ+ community. I was honoured to submit the motion calling for the bench and very proud to unveil it as the Mayor of Navan.

Navan Pride has a lot of very good events taking place across the town this week. Please make every effort to show your support by attending as many as you can."

The festival continued this week with 'Breaking Down Barriers: Panel Discussion on the importance of visibility in LGBTQ+ Community' in The Solstice Theatre on Tuesday; a Men's Aid Lunch and Learn Afternoon in Men’s Aid Office, St Anne’s Resource Centre, Railway Street on Wednesday; and a screening of 'All of Us Strangers' in the Solstice Arts Theatre; on Thursday, a screening of 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' in The Solstice Arts Theatre, followed by the official after party and Drag Bingo in Jackal bar; and a Midnight Rainbow Party in the Piano Bar at midnight; on Friday, 'The Bród, The Bold, and The Beautiful' in The Solstice Arts Theatre at 7:15pm' a 'Moulin Rouge Party' at 8pm; and on Saturday, the Navan Pride 2024 Festival Parade starting at the Fairgreen at 1pm, gathering at 12.30pm.

The Parade After-Party in Henry Loughran’s Bar (Lockies) with live music from IF and special guests immediately after the parade. Entry is free.