Waterford's Pride of the Déise announce seven day festival with over thirty events

Pride of the Déise has unveiled their lineup for the upcoming seven day festival. This year's event is the biggest ever iteration of the festival.

The event lineup includes the queer Vision Film Festival, spanning two nights to showcase the best in Queer cinema. 

Other events include Lash Out, a queer club night hosted by local drag artists, Disgraceful Cabaret, with its noughties themed drag cabaret show, Token Straight, an LGBT+ comedy night, Drag and Draw, and the 70s themed, Bród Ball, featuring three DJs. 

This year there is also a focus on promoting the Irish language, with events such as an LGBT Irish language conversational meet up and the inclusion of Irish language films in the Queer Vision Film Festival.

The Block Party on Saturday, June 1, will transform O'Connell Street into a vibrant Pride Village, featuring a queer market, quiet space at the Waterford Gallery of Art, and a Drag and Draw event. 

There will be live music and dancing in the street from 2pm to 7pm with local bands and DJs. 

The Pride of the Déise Youth Committee has also organised a range of youth-led events catering for 10 to 24-year-olds.

Other highlights of the festival will include a Pride Picnic, an 18+ Drag and Draw event at the Gallery of Modern Art, Open Stage and LGBT+ history talks which are sure to attract a lot of interest.

Speaking on this year's event, Amy O’Riordan, Chairperson of the Pride of the Déise Committee, said: "June, 2024, marks 50 years since the first Pride demonstration in Ireland called for the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland, which took 19 years to change in Irish law."

"We want Pride of the Déise to be not only a fantastic festival but a beacon of empowerment and unity for the community in Waterford," said Amy.

The seven day festival is set to take place from May 27 to June 2 in Waterford City.