[PHOTOS] Dublin Pride featured umbrellas and fantastic outfits

The persistent downpour over Ireland’s capital did not deter the thousands of participants and
onlookers who gathered for Dublin’s annual Pride parade.

Colorful community

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The historic streets of the city center were awash with all the colors of the rainbow as this year’s
Pride celebration marked 50 years since the first notable LGBTQ+ protest march took place in
Dublin in 1974. The many attendees were a testament to half a century of progress within the
Irish LGBTQ+ community.

A diversity of flags, creative signs, and spectacular costumes adorned the empowering
observance, which included marchers, floats, and performers. The sense of unity and joy was
palpable as chants and music filled the air, embodying the universal spirit of Pride.
From the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1993 to the historic referendum in 2015 that
legalized same-sex marriage, Ireland has seen a profound shift in societal attitudes and legal
rights for its LGBT+ citizens.

However, the parade and related events also served as platforms to highlight ongoing
challenges facing Ireland’s queer community, ranging from mental health struggles and a lack of
support for LGBT+ youth to the need for trans rights and passage of hate crime laws. Speakers
and banners reminded attendees and onlookers alike that, despite significant victories in an
increasingly accepting country, the battle for full equality continues.

A Wilde time

The parade finished at Merrion Square, where a Pride Village was held, featuring speakers,
entertainment, food vendors, and other festivities. This location was particularly fitting given that
famed Irish writer Oscar Wilde, who was convicted and imprisoned for gross indecency due to
his same-sex relationships, lived next to the park. Today, a life-size sculpture of Wilde sits within
the park, memorializing and honoring his legacy.

As night fell, the celebrations continued with various after-parties, the standout being the Mother
Block Party held on the grounds of the National Museum of Ireland. This event featured
performances by Northern Ireland’s Blu Hydrangea, who competed in season one of RuPaul’s
Drag Race UK in 2019 and later won RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World in 2022, and
Sasha Velour, the winner of season nine of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Slaaayy the Irish way

The queens slayed, drawing large crowds and adding a touch of international glamor and sass to the celebration. By reflecting on the past and celebrating the present, Dublin Pride continues to be a powerful
reminder of the resilience and strength of the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland—and beyond. Even
with the soaking rain, the vibrant celebration exemplified the unwavering optimism and
determination that sustains and drives the movement forward.

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