Clonmel Mayor Pat English was amongst the participants at the first every Pride Parade held in Clonmel on Saturday.
The organisers report that the Clonmel Pride Festival was hugely successful despite one incident that caused a brief disruption on Saturday.
Clonmel Pride Chairperson Gérard Sweetman, says the committee emphasises the success of the Pride Festival over one moment of disruption.
“The event made history with the first pride event in Clonmel that was attended by families’ friends and allies to the LGBT+ community.”
The Pride Festival featured events over three days and was supported by a range of organisations and businesses including Tipperary Fire Service, STDC, Boston Scientific and Tipperary County Council.
A Garda investigation is now underway into Saturday’s incident. Gardaí say they are investigating a Pubic Order incident and are examining CCTV footage in the area.
Clonmel Pride Festival Statement:
As chairperson of clonmel pride Festival and on behalf of myself and the committee
We would like to release a statement in regards to the incident that happened during our first Pride parade on Saturday 27th of August.
We firstly would like to highlight that we do not want to give this person a platform and that the video that is circulating is now in the hands of the Garda in Clonmel and they are Investigating it further.
We also would like to say that we have checked in with the person that the flag was taken and broken in front of and they are OK and has not let this faze them or ruin their pride.
We also call on the government to enact Hate Crime laws to protect the LGBT+ community it is going on too long and it needs to happen now.
If anything this has highlighted the need for pride more especially in rural towns and communities. Let us no forget pride is very much a protest and this incident proved that.
If anyone needs support after what happened please contact us and we can link you with lgbt services.
Hate has no place here.
We now would like to highlight the good from clonmel Pride 2022. We won’t let one negative ruin the 100s of positives.
We held our first pride parade with over 200 people walking the streets of clonmel.being proud of who they are and our families and allies along with us. We had over 500 people at our fun day and The community of clonmel and surrounding area came out in support of pride and the lgbt+ community their families and allies. Our pride events were filled with families couples adults and teens all with their lgbt friends family members or work colleagues.
We will not let this hatred push us down and we will continue to show love inclusion and equality and for all. We made history that day and we will continue to have pride in our town.
Please if you see Homophobia Transphobia or any hatred please call it out or report it.
Stand up for the LGBTI community in your home school business no matter where call it out.
We would like to thank each and everyone of you for the love that has been showed to us over the last couple of days. Thank you for the messages calls and donations to the pride go fund me page.
We are overjoyed with the support shown for the Clonmel Pride Festival 2022 and are so excited to build on the success of the festival next year and for many years to come.
Be kind everyone
Love is love, Be Proud Be You,
Clonmel Has Pride.
