Dublin LGBTQ Pride today advertised for a licence to hold an event  in Merrion Square at the end of this years Pride March.  Merrion Square Park – perfect location for hanging out in comfortable accessible surroundings with areas for children and families, self contained, wheelchair accessible, picnic friendly.  Perfect. Given that 22, 000 people participated in the march last year it would be great to have a decent city centre central venue where many of those marching could go at the end to celebrate and be proud in their city.

However a rumour is circulating that some officials in Dublin City Council do not favour the use of the space by such a gathering and may block it.  It appears that lgbts may have to find their local councillor and ask them to ensure that the event will go ahead – interested in shooting off an email?  Find your councillor here. I heard that there are efforts by some to get an emergency motion tabled which will make the council meeting next week worth watching.  I’m waiting on a comment from the Dublin Pride board and believe that their AGM is due on Thursday where this issue will no doubt be discussed.

For years (more than I care to remember) Dublin LGBTQ Pride has ended it’s march with a short event at the back of Wood Quay.  Apart from the fact that the venue has out grown the size of the march, it is very inaccessible for people with disabiltiies, not comfortable place for people to relax and enjoy performances or celebrate the diversity and community feel that pride marches and festival ought to create.  The place of LGBT people in Dublin is also not enhanced by the location, after a strut down O’Connell Street that we end up hiding at the back of a building. There’s nowhere to go for food, not a lot of space to sit down and a rush to the pubs afterwards. It’s not a great advertisement to the many tourists who visit that time of year for the two week Pride festival.

Merrion Square has been used for many successful events including the Street Performance World Championships and is a fitting place near Government Builidng and historic locations of significance to the lgbt community.  Put simply it’s a nice gaff.  A well planned event with an alcohol free policy where the participants feel safe and free to enjoy themselves, watch performances and relax with plenty of space would be be a great illustration of Dublin as a welcoming city.  I know that Dublin City Council has supported Pride and other events to date and hope whatever opposition to Merrion Square being used is overcome.

My previous posts on Pride and the venue of the post pride party, alternatives and access  and the message being given etc.  Yes I’ve tended to talk about this before – it’s time that Dublin welcomed Pride and that we felt proud of our city and our place in it.