Press Release: Celebration of Wexfords’ vibrant LGBTQIA+ community returns to Min Ryan Park on May 25th
Pride in the Park 2024
Saturday, 25th May 2024, Min Ryan Park, Wexford
Wexford Pride is excited to announce Pride in the Park 2024, taking place on Saturday, May 25th in Min Ryan Park. The annual celebration of Wexfords' LGBTQIA+ community, now in its fifth year, aims to be the biggest celebration yet, capturing the power of queer joy, community solidarity and coming together to create a space that recognises and embraces all corners of our vibrant community!
Growth of Wexford Pride
Since 2019, Wexford Pride has experienced huge growth as a voluntary community-led group expanding beyond an annual Pride in the Park celebration to encompass a year-round calendar of events, community groups and peer support working to support, celebrate and advocate for the representation and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in Co.Wexford.
Performers for Pride in the Park
This year’s performer line-up boasts an eclectic mix of exciting local musical talent and drag acts including some new and returning favourites from across the LGBTQIA+ community including Crimson, Lilli Dobbs O Brien, Bloco Garman, Anam Choir, Orbit LGBTQIA+ FDYS, 12 Gauge Outrage, Sams’ Collective and the first performance of Wexford Pride's very own Queer Chorus alongside many others!
LGBTQIA+ and allied small businesses
As a community-led celebration a key feature of Pride in The Park is the selection of LGBTQIA+ and allied small businesses! This year we’re excited to welcome over 20+ vendors spanning homemade crafts, literature, art, food and everything in between.
Pride After Party
Returning for their second year Poppy De Scrace and the Disgraceful Cabaret return to the sunny south-east for this year's Pride After Party in collaboration with Wexford Arts Centre. Audiences can expect Cosplay acts, Pride acts, Drag Kings, Drag Queens, Burlesque & Circus. Joining the line-up of the Irish drag and Nerdlesque will be Richard Joke, Kora Elle, Erick Shan, Aurora Divine, Max Volume, Desire & Chronic QT!
Veronica Victor (she/her), Community Liaison:
“Pride in the Park is the one time a year when we really get to celebrate the amazing queer community across county Wexford. We need these outlets to detoxify from all of the negativity we continue to face, and remind us that being LGBTQIA+ is a beautiful and joyous thing!”
Our values
Wexford Pride’s values are firmly rooted in Pride's political spirit and historic movement as an ongoing fight seeking social justice and equality for all LGBTQIA+ people. Ireland has made significant strides through the introduction of Marriage Equality in 2015 but, we must continue to show up in solidarity with those in our community who live within the intersections of queerness with broader systems of oppression and discrimination that continue to seek the marginalisation of those society deems as ‘different’.
This is reflected in Wexford Prides’ ongoing engagement with causes including the fight for an informed-consent model of transgender healthcare with Transgress the NGS, promoting greater social inclusion and community inclusion in partnership with Le Chéile and supporting a coalition of disabled persons representative organisations in the recent campaign to scrap the green paper on disability payment reform. In this vein, we're delighted to support the inclusion of local community groups and national organisations that work tirelessly to achieve a vision of a just and equal society for all, including CATU Wicklow & South Wexford, Wexford People Helping People, IPSC South East and many more.
Calendar of events
Following Pride in the Park 2023, Wexford Pride has continued to expand a year-round calendar of events and groups that seek to cultivate a safe space for LGBTQIA+ people and those exploring their identity to find community. This includes both online and in-person peer support groups supporting LGBTQIA+, trans feminine and asexual/aromantic individuals. This is complemented through social spaces including Tea on The Quay, and most recently, a monthly social night! Creative spaces through Board Game Night, Art Club and Queer Chorus provide an outlet for self-expression and connection across lived experiences.
Rían Browne (he/him), Public Relations Officer:
“The growth in our community speaks to the fundamental need for dedicated LGBTQIA+ spaces that support the visibility, representation and inclusion of queer people as part of the fabric of our local communities. As a community-led organisation that does not receive funding or corporate sponsorship, we work entirely in the spirit of community partnership and solidarity, and I think Pride in the Park is an incredibly powerful reflection of what can be achieved when remaining true to those roots!”
Wexford Pride is a voluntary community organisation led by and for the LGBTQIA+ community in Co.Wexford. It works to empower, celebrate and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and its diverse experiences, identities and cultures. Wexford Pride runs a calendar of social events, peer support spaces and community groups that respond to the needs and interests of LGBTQIA+ people in the county in addition to engaging in efforts in solidarity with community members and allies to support the realisation of social justice and equality on a local and national level.
Enquiries can be forwarded to wexfordpride@gmail.com
Connect with us via social media @WexfordPride on Facebook and Instagram.
