THERE was thunderous applause and a few tears of joy as it was announced that Limerick and the West of Ireland is to play host to the largest Pride event in Europe in 2028.
The region will play host to EuroPride 2028, a Europe-wide event that was described by one local councillor as being “as big, if not bigger” for Limerick than hosting the Ryder Cup or being named City of Culture.
EuroPride, previously held in massive European cities including Madrid, Zurich, Warsaw, Rome, London, and Cologne, is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors for the duration of the LGBTQIA+ festival.
This past April, it was announced that Limerick Pride, QuareClare, and The Outing festival were shortlisted in their bid to host EuroPride 2028 in the Mid West under the proposed name ‘Wild Atlantic EuroPride’.
In Barcelona this Saturday (October 11), it was announced that the bid, in a contest against Manchester Pride, was successful. The room erupted with applause as Irish delegates made their way to the stage for the handover, sealing the first time the massive event would be held on the island of Ireland.
The region received an overwhelming 70 per cent of the votes from the 120 EuroPride organisation members, setting a path for the biggest Pride event ever to take place in Ireland.
Attracting more than 100,000 people annually, the festival is held in a different European city every year. The festival this year took place across nine days in June in Lisbon, Portugal.
A post from the organisation said that “EuroPride will be held on the island of Ireland for the very first time, and it will be more than a celebration. The event will give voice and visibility to smaller Prides and LGBTQIA+ communities across Ireland and Europe, ensuring that every community – rural or urban – is seen, heard, and represented”.
Reacting to the historic news, Mayor of Limerick John Moran said that “people will talk about the fun we will have, they will talk about the positive impact to the economy, but this is much more”.
“It is saying to every kid and adult who may be asking the question to themselves that they are welcoming in the inclusive Limerick (and Clare) that we are continuing to build.
“As host, we will welcome tens of thousands of visitors, activists, artists, and allies from across Europe and beyond to our streets, venues, and public spaces. Together we will celebrate diversity, promote visibility, and forge new connections among LGBTQ+ communities and supporters.”
Mayor Moran said that “hosting EuroPride 2028 is an extraordinary honour for us here in Limerick. It is a moment for us to shine a spotlight on equality, to welcome the world, and to show how far we have come.”
Speaking at a meeting of Limerick City and County Council earlier this year, Social Democrats councillor Shane Hickey-O’Mara said that the city “came out in force” on the day EuroPride judges visited, saying the event will be “as big as Limerick City of Culture, and as big, if not bigger, than the Ryder Cup”.
Cathaoirleach of Limerick metropolitan District, Cllr Daniel Butler, said that “EuroPride has long been associated with major European capitals, and its arrival to Limerick marks a transformative moment for the West of Ireland”.
“Hosting EuroPride 2028 will shine a global spotlight on Limerick’s vibrant culture, creativity, and hospitality, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Wild Atlantic Way.”
Cllr Butler noted that “10 years after Ireland made history by becoming the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote, this announcement reminds us how far we have come — and how far we can still go together.”
