Derry will be awash with colour from tomorrow with the start of the Foyle Pride Festival with organisers promising a bigger and better celebration of the city’s diversity, equality and culture.
Over 7,400 people turned out last year to support the event which celebrates the lives of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community in the North West, promoting inclusion and respect and celebrating city’s rich cultural mix.
Building on the momentum of previous years, festival organisers this year anticipate that the festival will be even more impressive, with more colour, spectacle and carnival-style entertainment.
Highlight of the festival, a regular event since it began in 2010, will be a colourful parade which leave Waterside Railway Station at 2.00pm and make its way away across Craigavon Bridge, up Carlisle Road, along Ferryquay Street and down Shipquay Street to Guildhall Square.
Sha Gillespie.
Shá Gillespie, chairperson of the Foyle Pride committee, said last year’s festival was a “great success.”
She added: “It was fantastic to see so many people on the streets of Derry.
“Pride is a celebration of the LGBT community and an important cultural event for the city.”
She concluded: “This year we want to make Pride bigger and better and hope that all of the Derry community will come out to support us.”
Speaking ahead of the event Mayor of Derry, Councillor Brenda Stevenson, wished the festival organisers every success.
She said: “Last year the turnout was fantastic, and this year even more people are expected to attend the event which has become a real highlight of Derry’s summer festival programme.”
“Foyle Pride does an amazing job in offering support to the local LGBT community here in the North West, and the growing success of this event is a real testament to the value of their work here in the city. Derry is proud to embrace and promote diversity, and the LGBT community here is just one important part of our colourful cultural fusion.
“I’m delighted to be attending Saturday’s event and to offer my support, and that of Derry City Council, for both the festival and the city’s LGBT community.
“I wish the organisers every success in what promises to be yet another positive event for the city and I would encourage everyone to come along and join in the celebrations.”
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