We are all under the one rainbow

Monaghan Pride brought colour, music and a strong sense of community to Church Square on Saturday, with organisers estimating that more than 200 people attended the public celebration.

The event was spearheaded by Outcomers Dundalk, an LGBT+ community centre serving the north-east, and followed the second Castleblayney Pride the previous week. Bernadine Quinn, manager of Outcomers, described the Monaghan gathering as “superb” and “fantastic”, saying it had offered a welcoming space for people of all ages.

Visitors enjoyed small arts stalls, music, circus performers and a children’s play area, with nearby coffee shops adding to the relaxed atmosphere. Ms Quinn said many people simply came to sit, listen to the music and meet others, while the rainbow colours helped draw people in.

For Outcomers, the importance of the day went far beyond celebration. Ms Quinn said that for LGBT+ people living in places where they may not often see themselves represented, a visible public event could be “very, very powerful”. She said Pride allows people to be seen as part of their own town and community, whether in Monaghan, Castleblayney or elsewhere across the region.

Outcomers works across Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan, with outreach focused on building peer support groups. A Castleblayney group helped develop Castleblayney Pride, while a Monaghan peer support group, which meets in the Peace Campus twice a month, expressed the wish for a public event that could be seen locally. That led to the establishment of the Monaghan Pride group.

Monaghan Municipal District Cathaoirleach Cllr Alan Johnston came along to welcome the participants, telling them that the Courthouse plaza had been refurbished by the local authority in recent times to create a venue for all sections of the community to use for events and gatherings.

“This is a space for everyone to share and have a good time in,”said Cllr Johnston, adding he hopes it becomes an annual fixture of the summer festival programme in the town.

Rainbow-attired MC Eddie McGuinness thanked the Cathaoirleach and the local authority for their backing. “You have supported us financially and given us this space and your time,” he said, “and I know you support many of our groups in the community. Local councillors have an important voice and what they say at local level can travel to national level.”

Eddie McGuinness, founder of The Outing Queer Arts Collective, hoped that Pride has come to Monaghan to stay.

“Pride is all about celebrating who you are,” he said, “regardless of your background.

“We are all under the one rainbow.”