Athlone's first ever Pride event to take place this weekend
The first ever Heartlands Pride in Athlone will take place this weekend despite the future of the Midlands LGBT+ Project being in doubt, after it failed to secure vital funding from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The project, which started in 2021 in Laois, and now serves the entire Midlands including Westmeath, was not among 25 services to be funded under the 2023 LGBTI+ Community Services Funding Call operated by the Department.
Co-ordinator of the Midlands LGBT+ project, Christina Fitzharris, said activities and events already planned, including the Heartlands Pride festival in Athlone later this week, would proceed as they had already been budgeted.
From November 10-12, Heartlands Pride will have a number of events running with the support of local businesses spreading across the town.
On Friday, November 10, The ABS'c of LGBTQ will take place at 6pm at a location to be announced. A Wine and Cheese Night will be held at FINE coffee shop on Church Street at 8pm. Tickets for the Wine and Cheese Night cost €15 each and can be purchased from Eventbrite.com.
A free entry youth pride party will be hosted by Youth Work Ireland from 7pm to 9pm on Friday.
Meanwhile, a pride breakfast will kick off the festivities on Saturday, November 11 at 10am in Bastion Kitchen. This will be followed by the Rainbow Umbrella Market in Dead Centre Brewing from 12pm to 5pm which will enable queer creators, crafters and small business owners to sell their wares.
Athlone's residence drag show, The Haus of Kwén, will kick off at 9pm on Saturday night in the Prince of Wales Hotel.
A vigil for deceased LGBTQ+ people will take place on Sunday, November 12 at 1pm in Burgess Park. 'The Art of Drag' artsy afternoon will be held in Abbey Road Studio from 2pm to 4pm. Tickets cost €5 each and can be purchased from Eventbrite.com
Finally, the Trans Social Gaymes Night will be held from 6pm to 8pm. Message @heartlandspride for more details on this.
The team at Midlands LGBT+ Project has been working tirelessly to make Heartlands Pride a reality and is thrilled to have the support of the local community and businesses.
The event is not just about having fun and celebrating, but also about raising awareness of the issues faced by the LGBT+ community in Athlone and the surrounding midlands area. The information workshops will cover a range of topics, including terminology and support for LGBT+ people. There will also be opportunities to meet and connect with other LGBT+ people, as well as allies, who share similar values and experiences.
Heartlands Pride is an important step forward for Athlone and the wider LGBT+ community. It’s a chance to show that no matter who you are or who you love, we should take pride in both ourselves and our wider community.
To keep up to date with the latest news on Athlone's first ever major Pride celebration follow @heartlandspride on Instagram or visit www.midlandslgbtproject.com/heartlands-pride.