The History of Pride in Ireland
In celebration of Pride, we take a look at the major historical dates helping the movement towards a more diverse and inclusive Ireland.
“The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it" - Oscar Wilde
This interactive ArcGIS StoryMap will take you through Ireland's historic moments for positive change and progress for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Timeline
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1970 - Annual Picnic
Before the term Pride became popular in the 1980s, there were many LGBTQ+ events and protests held in Dublin. In the 1970s there was an annual picnic held in Merrion Square to raise awareness of the Stonewall Riots to Dubliners.
1974 - The 1st Pride March
On June 27 1974, 10 people marched from the Department of Justice in St. Stephen’s Green to the British Embassy to protest the criminalisation of homosexuality (under the Offences Against the Persons Act), which dated back to the Victorian Era.
1979 - The 1st Pride Week
Ireland’s first Pride Week was held on June 25th to July 1st 1979, organised by the National Gay and Lesbian Federation. The 10-day event was established to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots and to draw attention to the difficulty and oppression that members of the LGBTQ+ community in Irish faced.
1983 - The 1st Large Scale LGBTQ+ March
In March 1983, the first large scale LGBTQ+ protest march took place in Dublin, organised in response to the release of five men who brutally murdered Declan Flynn in a homophobic attack , in Fairview Park. About 900 people marched from Liberty Hall to Fairview Park to express their outrage and desire for justice. The march was a demand for change and marks a turning point for recognising the injustices against LGBTQ+ people.
….And the 1st Gay Pride Parade
Later that year, on June 25th 1983, the National LGBT Federation organised the first Gay Pride parade in Ireland. 200 people walked from Stephen’s Green to the GPO on O’Connell Street.
1993 - Homosexuality decriminalised in Ireland
It wasn't until June 1993 that Dáil Éireann passed legislation to decriminalise homosexuality in Ireland. Although Ireland still had a long way to go for full equality, this marked a monumental change and a huge step forward for LGBTQ+ rights.
1998 - The Employment Equality Act
In 1998, the Employment Equality Act was introduced, prohibiting discrimination in employment based on several grounds, including sexual orientation.
However, the fight for gay rights was not over with the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1993 - gay marriage was declared the next priority in the fight for equality.
2010 - The Civil Partnership Act
The Civil Partnership Act was passed in Ireland in 2010 - which marked a stepping stone to same-sex marriage. The act set out rights that civil partners have towards each other, which were similar to that of married couples. However, the act did not change the law on issues relating to children, e.g. guardianship or adoption.
2015 - Ireland Legalises Same Sex Marriage
After years of campaigning, on May 22nd 2015, Ireland officially passed the same-sex marriage referendum, becoming the first country to legalise gay marriage by popular vot e (62% of votes in favour vs 38% against).
Thousands of people gathered in Dublin Castle to celebrate the results which marked a historical day for Ireland.
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, the Minister for Health at the time, thanked everyone who came out to support the LGBTQ+ community stating, "For me it wasn’t just a referendum. It was more like a social revolution".
2016 - Senator David Norris is Grand Marshall at Pride Parade
David Norris, a well-known, highly respected, and long-term activist for LGBTQ+ rights in Ireland, was Grand Marshall at the 2016 Pride Parade in Dublin. Hear what this meant to him during an interview with The Journal.
Last year (May 2020), Norris was interviewed by GCN , where he was hailed a 'true hero' opening up about his activism, first love and presidential campaign.
2020 - Northern Ireland Legalises Same Sex Marriage
Fast-forward four years later, when, on January 13th 2020, same-sex marriage was legalised in Northern Ireland.
Not only did this mean that same-sex couples could now legally tie the knot in Northern Ireland, but couples who got married elsewhere would have their marriage recognised by the state.
Photo by: William Murphy
Pride Today
Today – the annual parade has grown to become one of the biggest festivals celebrated in Ireland, beginning at the at GPO on O'Connell Street and finishing up at Merrion Square. Two years ago, on Saturday June 29th 2019, the 40th anniversary of Ireland's first Pride Week was celebrated, with tens of thousands of people taking to Dublin city to celebrate the occasion that marked the largest parade in Dublin Pride history.
From start to finish, the parade took a total of three hours - assembling at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square with a number of performances taking place at the GPO and finishing up in Merrion Square with a free outdoor event.
Photo by: William Murphy
Photo by: William Murphy
This was the first time uniformed members of An Garda Síochána took part in the Pride Parade.
Dublin Pride 2021
Due to COVID-19 restrictions banning all large gatherings, last year's (2020) Dublin Pride Festival was held virtually.
Although similarly to last year,we will not be able to experience the buzz and excitement of celebrating the Pride Parade in-person on Saturday 26th June, there will be a Virtual Pride Parade.
The 2021 Virtual Pride Parade will include a full-day of entertainment and broadcast once again from The Round Room at The Mansion House.
"Where Pride Starts", a free exhibition, charts the history of the Dublin Pride March and Parade; from the Fairview March of 1983, that started at Stephen’s Green and went all the way to Fairview Park following the murder of Declan Flynn, right up to today. The exhibition will run from June 16th – July 16th at Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre.
There will also be a wide range of activities, events and exhibitions taking place over the course of Pride Month / Pride Week - check out the official Pride Guide here.
Other Pride events across Ireland that you can look forward to:
Belfast
The Belfast Pride Festival takes place from July 31st to August 1st. Belfast Pride is run by a dedicated voluntary team with the aim of fighting for equal rights for the LGBT+ community in Belfast.
Mayo
The Mayo Pride Festival has been around since 2017. This year, it will be taking place on July 9th to July 11th, with a wide range of outdoor trips and activities planned.
Cork
Cork Pride takes place on July 26th to July 28th this year. Their pride agenda is yet to be published.
Derry
Derry's annual Foyle Pride Festival will take place from August 23rd to August 29th. Before the covid-19 pandemic, the annual Foyle Pride Parade assembled on Waterside Train Station and retraced the steps of the original Civil Rights March on October 1968.
Limerick
The first ever Pride event took place in Limerick in 2001 and since then, the festival has continued to gain momentum every year. With a physical Limerick Pride Festival not being able to take place, the Limerick Virtual Pride 2021 will be held from July 5th - July 11th with the Parade on Saturday, July 10th to bring Pride into people's homes.
Other Pride events across Ireland include Tipperary Pride, Galway Pride, Dundalk Pride, Drogheda Pride & Carlow Pride.
The Journey Continues...
The history of Pride in Ireland has taken many twists and turns from its origins in June 1974 to what we know it as today.
It is clear that we have come a long way. We still have a way to go to help advocate for LGBTQ+ communities not just in Ireland but all over the world. Senator David Norris encapsulated this sentiment in his quote from June 2016:
“My message would be to people of all age groups to celebrate and enjoy the day and also, now that we have achieved so much in this country… we have to consider the fact that throughout the globe the majority of countries still persecute gay people. The battle globally is really only just beginning, and we cannot forget our brothers and sisters in other countries.”
