Pride this year is not limited to one weekend in the capital city – far from it. There are several wonderful Pride festivals for all to enjoy throughout the country, from week-long parties in Limerick and Cork to spectacular weekends of dancing, outdoor activities and education in Waterford and Mayo.

Here are some of the LGBTQ+ festivals being held throughout the summer to help you to celebrate Pride all over Ireland.

Have any plans for the June Bank Holiday? Head to beautiful Westport and celebrate Mayo Pride with outdoor adventures, late-night antics and great company.

Kicking off the celebrations on the Friday night is the glamorous Haus of WIG, a queer cabaret act with a monthly sold-out residency of The Sugar Club in Dublin. Join great performers like Shaqira Knightley, Donna Fella and more for live music, dancing and other hijinks. Besides the Mayo Pride Parade itself, other events include a Big Gay Hike up Croagh Patrick, a Pride Boat Cruise around Clew Bay, a Pride After Party in The Mariner and a drag brunch to get your Bank Holiday Sunday started the right way.

Mixture of free and ticketed events. Various venues, Westport, Co Mayo, May 31 - June 3.

Photo credit: @lucyniamhh_

Waterford’s Pride of the Déise is one of Ireland’s newer LGBTQ+ festivals, but the organisers are quickly making up for lost time with stellar programming throughout their 2024 event for the June Bank Holiday weekend.

Head to the Pride March from Cathedral Square on June 1, then dance through O’Connell Street at the Pride Block Party or browse the Pride Market on Barker Place. The following day, start your morning with the Pride Picnic in People's Park and once you've recovered from previous night's antics, doll yourself up for the final event of the pride season, the That 70's Bród Ball in The Reg Bar.  

Mixture of free and ticketed events. Various venues, Waterford, Co Waterford, May 27 - June 2.

Limerick goes all-out for Pride, with a full week in early July set out to celebrate all things LGBTQ+ in the Treaty City. The festivities run the gamut — activist talks at Ormston House, exhibitions at the Hunt Museum, LGBTQ+ film screenings, drag brunches, karaoke nights and even self-defence courses are open to attendees. The festival will reach its peak with the Pride Parade that will wind through the streets of Limerick on July 8.

The famed drag queen Courtney Act will host the official After Party at Dolans that evening, which is sure to be an unforgettable night on the Shannon.

Mixture of free and ticketed events. Various venues, Limerick, Co Limerick, 3-9 July.

Photo credit: @kensington25

This year’s Drogheda Pride is set to feature markets, live performances and educational talks across a fun-filled weekend, but the crown jewel of the festival is the parade itself on July 20, with performances from performers like Kobrah Kage, Kenny Todgers, Phil t Gorgeous and Dualoveit. 

Mixture of free and ticketed events. Various venues, Drogheda, Co Louth, July 18-21.

Dublin Pride isn’t the only festival honouring a milestone this year: Corkonians will be throwing a “30 Years On…” celebration from July 30 to August 6 to honour 30 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Irish law. While the full lineup is still to come, Cork Pride will go out with a bang on August 6 with their annual parade on the banks of the River Lee. Stick around for the Party on the Port headlined by Wild Youth, Ireland’s Eurovision 2023 entrants.

Mixture of free and ticketed events. Various venues, Cork, Co Cork, 30 July - 6 August.

Summer is always busy in Galway, and the city will be capping off another wonderful season of Pride from August 12 to 18. Aside from the Pride Parade on August 17, there are a wide selection of events to keep you in the spirit of Pride, from Drag Bingo and a Pride Swim in the sea to a Gaylí (a traditional céilí with a rainbow twist) and a BTQIA+ Tea Party. 

Mixture of free and ticketed events. Various venues, Galway, Co Galway, August 1-18.

Photo credit: @galway.pride