#pinkparade

Fri 30th August

PRIDE Launch @ The Parlour Thomas Street 8pm Hosted by Madonna Lucia. FREE Let's get this party started! Audio Angels are a music and dance troupe consisting of male and female dj’s, percussionists and performers. The guys are putting on a massive show with fire breathing, drink promos and spectacle to get everyone geared up for the festival. The venue shall be illuminated in Pink with free cocktails on arrival with gorgeous dancers and fire breathers creating a WOW spectacle smack bang in the middle of Limerick City! TEN days of ACTION for Equality, Love, Diversity and Celebration starts right here!

Sat 31st August

Abseil @ Thomond Park Time slot TBC from 10am see website Last year Self Help Africa was the charity that benefited from the fantastic fundraising done by the participants. This year, the Abseil event is open to other clubs & charities including Self Help Africa & Marriagequality.ie. To take part in the abseil, participants pay a €65 registration fee, with the rest of the funds they raise going towards their charity of choice. If you would like to get involved or need more information please contact the event organiser Sharon Mc Meel on 086-8524800 or [email protected] This is a unique opportunity to scale the most iconic landmark in Limerick city, Thomond Park, the home of Munster Rugby, and you never know who you will bump into on the day! Moninne Griffith from Marriagequality.ie says, “We are delighted to have amazing supporters like Sharon and Dave Cuddihy (Chairman Limerick Pride) who are organising this fundraising event in aid of Marriage Equality as part of the Limerick Pride festival. We are so close to achieving equality for same sex couples, their families and their children and hope to see a referendum on the issue next year. We know Ireland is ready, with public support at 75%, but we need our supporters to help us get this across the line. That is why we are asking everyone who thinks it’s time for marriage equality in Ireland to show their support to this fun event.” Pride Art @ Hunt Museum 2:30 – 4:30pm FREE - collect a ticket from Reception on the day. Join a guest artist for a fun-filled afternoon making hearts with a twist and Community Love Flags. Each participant will get the opportunity to create a strand of community heart-shaped flags that will offer love, good wishes, and happy thoughts far and wide throughout our community. The Flags will be exhibited in The Hunt Museum Education Wing throughout Pride Week 2013 for all visitors to enjoy! Ms.Faghag Dionysus @ Dolans Upstairs Venue 11.30pm €10 Hosted by Miss Anna Rexia. Judge Frances Healy has the unenviable task of choosing this years recipient of the Faghag crown from a motley selection of Prize Queens and their Fabulous Hags. Think of it as Crufts on crack, followed by the best club music at Dionysus Club. FruiT @ Basement Pery, Catherine Street, Limerick 11.30pm €10 FruiT is a weekly gay club night in the basement. Gay dancing, Every Saturday, In town. DJ Bugsy gets everyone geared up for the first weekend of Pride with contemporary pop and the usual drink promos.

Sunday 1st September

Pride Picnic @ Peoples Park, Limerick 1pm Come out for a picnic in the Park and bring your dog to the Limerick Animal Welfare LAW Dog show with various categories including best costume and best rescue dog. Scoop the Poop! €2 Per category in Dog Show, all monies raised go to LAW. Please note this event is outdoors so keep an eye on facebook and website for updates. In case of a hurricane alternate arrangements will be made! Drum and Costume Workshop 3pm @ Hunt Museum FREE A radical faery drum/dance/costume/heart circle where people can drum, dance, dress up and let go! This workshop is aimed at anyone who likes to have fun and share, no experience needed just a heartbeat! For more info about the radical faeries check out www.folleterre.org The Radical Faeries (also Faeries and Fae) are a loosely-affiliated, worldwide network and counter-cultural movement seeking to reject hetero-imitation and redefine queer identity through spirituality. Prayer Service @ St Marys Cathedral 5:30pm FREE The Annual Pride Prayer Service is made possible by the Staff, Clergy and indeed the Congregation of St. Mary's Cathedral who support what has become a very special event for Pride that celebrate inclusion and diversity. This year songs of faith and devotion are provided by Unity Gospel Choir Limerick under the expert tutelage of Gretta McCormack-O'Shea M.A. The service is delivered and made possible by the Rev. Jane Galbraith and is open to ALL. Pride Theatre Presents BRB @The Parlour, Thomas Street, Limerick 8pm €8 It’s the morning after a teenager’s party, and someone is dead in the bathroom. BRB takes us through the months and weeks leading up to this event, during which relationships are torn apart by a secret love affair between two girls. Written by Australian stage and screenwriter, Kirsten Stoddart, and directed by seasoned Irish theatre and film director, Jessie Kirby, BRB addresses issues that are often not discussed openly, such as teen depression, homophobia, bullying, self-image and suicide. BRB asks questions about identity and finding where you belong in society. BRB premiered at the 10th International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in May 2013, with a 6-night run at the James Joyce Centre. It is now working its way around the Republic of Ireland and the UK. BRB is suitable for audiences 15+ (parental discretion advised). It does contain some strong language and sexual themes, but also addresses important issues at the heart of the LGBTQ experience in Irish society. Not to be missed!

Mon 2nd September

Parents of LGBT Support Group Monday September 2nd, 7.30pm in Shannon Family Resource Centre, Rineanna View Estate, Shannon, Co. Clare. The parent support group is a confidential space where parents of LGBT people can share experiences and seek advice and information on LGBT issues. For more information contact Patrick on (061)31010 or email [email protected]

Tues 3rd September

Sexual Empowerment Workshop for GBT Men 4pm @RRP A confidential workshop in a safe space designed to explore the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of sexual health; including pleasure. For more information contact Patrick on (061)31010 or email [email protected] The Outlet, Adult LGBT Group @RRP 7.30 pm The Outlet is a mixture of serious conversation and fun times. We discuss things like mental health, LGBT issues and the Irish weather! For more information contact Patrick on (061)310101 or email [email protected] GEEK OUT Table Quiz @ The White House Bar, O'Connell Street, Limerick 7PM hosted by Myles Breen €5 So you know the difference between a sonic screwdriver and a jeffries tube? You know that Han shot first? Prove your Geek mettle at a special table quiz in aid of Limerick LGBTQ Pride and have a laugh at the useless pop culture information we have stored in our brains. MC for the evening Myles Breen shall struggle to keep a straight face as people fight over alternate timelines and interspatial fluxes. Regardless there are AMAZING spot prizes to be won! €5 a head for a table of five.

Wed 4th September

Rapid HIV Tests @RRP Wednesday September 4th & Thursday September 5th, in Red Ribbon Project, Davis Street, Limerick. Using the Orasure Rapid Testing Kit we can provide a confidential HIV test using oral fluid or blood. Especially for Pride we are providing these at a reduced cost: €30 waged/€15 unwaged. Appointments are expected to last between 30 and 40 minutes. For more information or to book a test please call 061 314354 or email [email protected] Sexual Empowerment Workshop for LBT Women @RRP Wednesday September 4th, 4pm in Red Ribbon Project, Davis Street, Limerick. A confidential workshop in a safe space designed to explore the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of sexual health; including pleasure. For more information call 061 314354 or email [email protected] Queer tour 4pm @ Hunt Museum Donation €3 Uncover the queer, unusual and hidden histories of some treasures of The Hunt’s collection. Part of Limerick Pride week at the Hunt. Please note the tour will also happen on Parade day September 7th at 3PM.

Thurs 5th September

Rapid HIV Tests @RRP Wednesday September 4th & Thursday September 5th, in Red Ribbon Project, Davis Street, Limerick. Using the Orasure Rapid Testing Kit we can provide a confidential HIV test using oral fluid or blood. Especially for Pride we are providing these at a reduced cost: €30 waged/€15 unwaged. Appointments are expected to last between 30 and 40 minutes. For more information or to book a test please call 061 314354 or email [email protected] Queer Cornucopia OUTINUL Craft day @ Hunt 12-5pm FREE Join University Of Limerick students for an afternoon of Pride themed fun. Out in U.L., the University LGBT group are doing make and do with a twist. Make Pride Bracelets, do some painting or even try your hand at some on the spot Drag tutorials. Pride Supper Club with Dame Aunty Lily & Diva Judy O'Connor Dinner and Show @ Dolans Venue 7.30pm €15 "Hats and Boa's" is the theme for The Supper Club Upstairs in Dolans Venue on Thursday September 5th. Our resident Diva Ms Judy O'Connor will perform a medley of classic songs ably assisted by Mr Jim Lawless as Maitre D' AKA Dame Aunty Lily. Expect a night of camp fun and frolics with a few guest surprises. Tickets for the Show (including 2 course Supper) are €15. Guests are asked to wear a hat or a Boa (or both) Doors are at 7.30pm Mr & Ms Gay Limerick @ Bentleys 8.30pm €8 Hosted by Paul Ryder The annual search is on for the new mister and miss! Contestants will be put through their paces by host Paul Ryder under the watchful eye of guest judges, former title holders and the baying crowd. Only two can step up to the challenge to represent Limerick and become Mr.&Ms. Gay Limerick 2013. The first duty of the winners is to walk in the Pride Parade with this years Grand Marshall on September 7th.

Fri 6th September

TENI Seminar @ Absolute Hotel, Sir Harrys Mall, Limerick 9.30 AM With Vanessa Lacey of TENI FREE The annual Limerick LGBTQ Pride festival that seeks to promote positive visibility of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer people in Limerick has this year organised a seminar entitled 'Best Practice Guidelines in working with Transgender Patients and their families'. Limerick Pride feels that this is an opportunity to address the Medical Profession on an issue that may not have been tackled before within the Munster region. In conjunction with Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI), Pride is aiming this seminar specifically at members of the Medical Profession, G.P.'s, Students, Community,Health and Social workers and of course the wider Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in the Mid Western Region. Vanessa Lacey (TENI) is delivering this seminar, and has already given talks and workshops in this subject area both nationally and internationally. Ms.Lacey is the Health and Information Officer for Transgender Equality Network Ireland and is an expert in all areas of Trans* health issues and nomenclature. This seminar is provided free of charge and is wheelchair accessible. Light refreshments will also be available with a donation to Pride. Skeletons in the closet 1pm @ Hunt Museum FREE Discovering Queerness in family history. As part of the Hunt Museum 2013 Gathering programme and Limerick Pride Week, Dr John Logan will be speaking on researching family history and uncovering queer, unusual and often hidden family secrets. This is an absolute must for genealogy buffs! Coming Out workshop 4pm @RRP in Red Ribbon Project, Davis Street, Limerick. This workshop explores the experience of ‘coming out’. Participants get to hear other peoples ‘coming out’ stories and share their own experiences if they feel comfortable enough to. It is a workshop aimed at showing and appreciating the honesty, strength and courage of ‘coming out’. For more information contact Patrick on (061)310101 or email [email protected] Women's night 9pm @ The Piano Bar / Bentleys €5 The annual Pride Ladies Night does exactly what it says on the tin, come chat and mingle with the girls and enjoy some complimentary finger food while you dance the evening away! Special guest appearance by Rachy P followed by DJ. Located upstairs in the plush piano bar at Bentleys. T’was the night before Pride @ Mickey Martins from 9pm - 1am FREE Mickey Martins presents T'was the night before Pride, with special guests Mother, home of synth pop and electronic music in Dublin. Mickeys is a stalwart of the alternative dance music scene in Limerick, (Calvin Harris and Norman Jay recently DJ'd), and a damn fine spot for a few sociables. To get into the spirit of Pride they are going gay for one night and encouraging their regular patrons to get in the mood! Spilling out onto Augustinian Lane there will be aerial acrobatics, street performers, drag hostesses, burlesque masquerade and full on patron participation. Think Halloween except GAY! This free event is supporting the GCN Forever campaign. GCN is a not for profit publication and registered charity that exists for one reason: to give LGBT people access to information about everything that is happening for them across Ireland, both politically and culturally and give them access to a sense of community. A night not to be missed and should set you up nicely for the Parade!

Sat 7th September

PRIDE breakfast @ The Old Quarter 9.30am Delicious full Irish to set you up for the Parade or a light continental if you haven't gone to bed yet. Go ahead have champagne it is Pride! Uth Group 11am @RRP in Red Ribbon Project, Davis Street, Limerick. The youth groups aim is to encourage young people to be proactive in attaining education and awareness around sexual health/ concerns and emotional and mental health issues that are of relevance to them and their peers. For more information contact Patrick or Teresa on (061)310101 or email [email protected] #PINKPARADE 2pm SHARP Assemble from 1pm outside Limerick Court house and get into the mood for the biggest and brightest Limerick LGBTQ Pride Parade yet! This is the last of the festival season in Ireland and we are encouraging people to wear PINK to show support for MARRIAGE EQUALITY and an end to Homophobia. Expect full on colour, dance, music, street performance, theatrics and even a marching band! The Parade shall be led by our Grand Marshall, the first Alternative Miss Limerick! Limerick Pride in association with The Gathering and www.rainbowretreats.ie have flown in Miss Lilette Shannon Banks to lead the #PINKPARADE around Limerick City. Be Loud Be Bold Be Daring Be There! FREE Parade After Party @ Orchard 3pm Hosted by the Flawless Celine Immediately after the parade revellers shall be welcomed to the Parade After Party at The Orchard on Bank Place. This party is going to be unlike any held before. Unity Gospel Choir Limerick shall sing their hearts out as people arrive to a smorgasbord of treats for all the family. Expect a Bouncy Castle and the Fun Bus with face painting for the kids, a myriad of fresh food with a BBQ, and full bar for the adults, candyfloss and ice cream and a carnival atmosphere. There will be guest speakers, a Tea dance, a fully equipped Pride Stall to get you decked up for the day and night and several performances from special guests. Girl band Grenade return for a blistering set on what has almost become the last gig on their Pan European Pride tour, followed by DJ set. Through it all Celine will be on hand as Mistress of Ceremonies making sure we don't make a show of ourselves in front of the guests. You know yourself babes! Its time to feel AMAZING!                          FREE Art Opening by Kieran Carey @ Faber Gallery Henry Street. Limerick artist Kieran Carey presents an exhibition of his new work. Opening time TBC see website. Queer tour 3PM @ Hunt Museum FREE Uncover the queer, unusual and hidden histories of some treasures of The Hunt’s collection. Part of Limerick Pride week at the Hunt. Art from the heart family workshop 2.30 - 4.30PM @ Hunt Museum Donation €3 Join a guest artist for a fun-filled afternoon making hearts with a twist and Community Love Flags. For more information see www.huntmuseum.com FruiT Pride PRHomo @ Basement Pery 11.30PM €10 Fruit and Prhomo (Dublins Biggest Weekly gay club night) are teaming up for for Limerick Pride. Join DJ Ruth on the decks with Club Host Paul Ryder alongside Prhomos crew and Dancers. LOTS of Drinks Promotions and 2 Hotel breaks to be won on the night. Let's Party like its Pride! Saturday September 7th at Fruit, Perys Catherine Street Doors at 11.30PM PRIDE CLOSING PARTY DIONYSUS PRESENTS 'ABBAESQUE WITH DJ JULES & Mona Lott' @ Dolans Warehouse + Upstairs Venue doors 9PM €17 Access all areas, two floors of entertainment with drink promotions on the night. Upstairs Club Venue presents DJ Mona Lott with the best camp classics and 80's retro POP. In the Warehouse, Ireland's number one ABBA tribute band ABBAESQUE work the Dancing Queens into a frenzy of Pride flavoured glam pop. Followed by the amazing DJ Jules on the decks into the early hours with the best contemporary dance. Two Bars, two dancefloors, one beergarden and large smoking area. Wheelchair accessible venue.

Sun 8th September