Foyle Pride 2026 kicks-off with tournament at Waterside Shared Village
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Derry’s Waterside Shared Village hosts the 10th Football v Homophobia tournament tonight
Foyle Pride Festival officially kicks off this evening (Wednesday, August 19) with the annual Football v Homophobia tournament.
This is the 10th edition of the tournament which is taking place for the first time in the Waterside Shared Village.
A total of 16 teams will be competing for the prestigious Rainbow Cup and Rainbow Shield. Registration for the tournament begins at 5.30pm, with the first games kicking off at 6.00pm.
Former Ireland soccer and rugby International Jackie McCarthy O'Brien will be joining the event to present the trophies, as she arrives in Derry to launch her memoir 'We made it Kid' on Thursday, August 20 at 2.00pm in Little Acorns Bookstore, then later officially launch this year's Foyle Pride Festival.
Ahead of the festival kick off Festival organisers said: “This is the 33rd year of Foyle Pride Festival. We are really excited about the range of events the community has put on this year, to celebrate LGBTQIA+ culture, lives and talent, and highlight the struggles we still face.
“We are honoured to be welcoming Jackie McCarthy O'Brien to Foyle Pride. She was the first black person to play internationally for Ireland in soccer and rugby, and is a proud lesbian woman.
“She has an incredible life story and we are so excited for her to share some of it with us."
The Foyle Pride parade will take place on Saturday, August 29, leaving the Waterside Train Station at 2.00pm, to march along the origional civil rights route to the Guildhall Square where there will be music and family friendly events.