Loud & Proud: Longford celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community

There was a burst of colour through the streets of Longford last Saturday as the county town celebrated Pride.

The Longford Pride parade, which started at Connolly Barracks, slalomed through town under the guiding eye of marshal Rebecca Tallon de Havilland.

The jubilant gathering was just part of a day that included discussion and live music.

“It was very successful. We've been absolutely buzzing since,” organiser Caroline Lewis said of the day.

Providing a safe, positive and visible space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Longford and helping to celebrate diversity, inclusion and equality was the raison d'etre for the Pride day.

Caroline is the Bula Bula samba band leader. The drum collective provided the soundtrack for the parade.

When organising the event Caroline was struck by the level of support for the project: “Businesses and companies readily came on board and offered to host things. A lot of people attended the early drag brunch in Take Two restaurants, it was fully booked out.

“That was a lot of fun. The town was electric. I just noticed there was a buzz in the town for the whole day. We had people coming off the train and up the streets with flags, dressed for the parade.”

Traditionally confined to big cities, Ireland has seen a massive growth of Pride events and festivals in rural towns over the last few years. Traditionally taking place in June or July.

As well as the drag brunch and parade Longford’s first Pride festival included street music entertainment and a dedicated evening festival club.

A less obvious event was the craft fare: “I think all the crafters were really, really happy with the success of it. Pig Market Lane was busy all day. There was food, crafters and music.”

Caroline was particularly happy with the contribution of the collective: “Bula Bula Samba played fantastically. Everybody came together, pulled their socks up and really just had fun.“We were laughing the whole way. It was just such a good vibe. And the streets were packed.”

The Longford Pride organiser said that the LGBTQIA+ community were well supported: “There were family members there, dressed up and waving flags, faces painted and hair with ribbons. People made such an effort to support the participants.”

On Saturday night the Pride Party was in The Spiral Tree: “Lots of people joined the Pride Party. Everybody was so supportive and the party vibe was absolutely fantastic. We stayed there till the wee hours in the morning.”

Caroline was overwhelmed by the support of the public: “I walked around the town with Rebecca as we went to various things. Men and women came up to her, people in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and wished her the best of luck.”

The event organiser said the day was only possible thanks to the support of a number of organisations and the voluntary work of everyone involved: “Longford Pride was supported by County Longford Arts Service, Creative Ireland – Longford, Cruinniú na nÓg and funding from An Post.

We also had great support from Eddie Valentine in the Spiral Tree and from Louis Herterich. There were many others who got behind Longford Pride to make it a success.”