Athlone's first Pride parade set to honour local 'trailblazer'
By Rebekah O'Reilly
Heartlands Pride is set to host Athlone’s first-ever Pride parade this summer as part of a new multi-day festival.
The group announced that its inaugural Summer Pride celebration will run from Wednesday, June 3, to Sunday, June 7, and will feature a Pride parade through Athlone on Saturday, June 6.
The Pride parade will honour late 'trailblazer' Michael Woods, from Battery Heights, who passed away in July 2023.
"The late Michael Woods was the first person who tried to get a pride parade or festival in Athlone. He was the first person to have pride events and came out at a time when the world was still a cold place for LGBT+," said Christine O'Mahony of Heartlands Pride.
"While there is still discrimination of course for the LGBT+ community, we have recognition and legislation in place to protect us now.
"The Covid-19 pandemic halted the first planned festival by Michael Woods, and he unfortunately passed away in 2023 just months before Heartlands Pride Athlone was officially set up.
"We think it is right to honour his memory. Michael Woods walked so Heartlands Pride Athlone could run. He was a trailblazer."
Organisers have also launched a fundraising campaign to help cover the costs of staging the event.
Founded in 2023, Heartlands Pride has been building a presence in the Midlands through its annual Winter Pride programme.
Previous Winter Pride festivals in Athlone featured initiatives like Pride markets, art exhibitions, and live entertainment, alongside community meet-ups aimed at fostering visibility and connection for LGBTQ+ people in the region.
The events have also attracted local support, with the organisation securing grant funding following the winter programmes.
Organisers say the experience gained from hosting Winter Pride has helped lay the groundwork for the expanded summer festival.
They hope that the new Summer Pride festivities will become a sustainable annual event and a landmark celebration for the Midlands.