Tens of thousands expected to take part in Dublin’s Pride parade
By Cate McCurry, PA
Tens of thousands of people are expected to take part in Dublin’s Pride parade on Saturday.
The organisers said the event also celebrates a milestone 10 years of marriage equality.
Thousands will make their way through Dublin city for the annual parade ahead of speeches and entertainment in Merrion Square’s Pride Village.
The parade will start at O’Connell Street at around 12:30pm, and travel along Eden Quay and Custom House Quay before crossing the Talbot Memorial Bridge, up Lombard Street and Westland Row before finishing at Merrion Square.
The non-ticketed festival at the Pride Village will include music, food stalls, acts and speeches on the main stage.
In his last year as president, Michael D Higgins offered his warmest greetings to all those marking Pride 2025.
He said: “This annual celebration is a vital affirmation of the rights, dignity, and joy of our LGBT+ communities.
“It is a time, too, to remember with gratitude the courage of those who paved the way for progress when marching was not safe, who gave voice to truths that were long silenced, and who set the foundations for the inclusive Ireland that we continue to strive towards today.
“In recent years, great strides have been made in advancing the rights and recognition of LGBT+ people in Ireland.
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“In celebrating Pride this year, we are also marking the 10th anniversary of the Marriage Equality referendum, a moment that spoke of the kind of Ireland we aspire to be: inclusive, generous, an Ireland that is unafraid to affirm the equal worth of all of our citizens.
“Yet, we must also acknowledge that the journey is not complete.
“A truly inclusive society is one where all can live authentically and creatively, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, where all can participate fully, and where all voices are not only heard but valued, in all their richness and diversity.
“Pride remains a vital expression of that vision in challenging us to deepen our commitment to human rights, to solidarity, and to the kind of republic that cherishes all of its people equally.
“In a time when hard-won rights are being questioned in many parts of the world, such vigilance and unity are more vital than ever.”
There will be road closures in the city centre.