Pictures: Kilkenny Pride Parade brings joyful celebration to Kilkenny streets

Kilkenny celebrated its second Pride Festival last weekend with a four-day event that ran from Thursday to Sunday .

The festival line-up comprised the first Kilkenny Pride film festival, Queer Céilí, Pride parade, family fun-day, and ‘Séid ’, the festival's after-dark line-up with DJs, drag artists and more.

Organisers say Kilkenny Pride is about promoting safe and inclusive spaces for everyone to enjoy and celebrate queer culture in the city known around the globe for its rich tradition in the arts and diverse festival programme.

Plans are already underway to expand on the festival line-up for 2027, Niamh Morgan, co-chair of the Kilkenny Pride Committee said: “We kicked things off this year with our very first film festival. A great way to launch the weekend, with a mix of films from talented filmmakers of different ages and backgrounds from around Ireland.

“We had huge numbers join us again for the parade and events over the weekend, and the feedback has been fantastic. We’re continuing to build on the momentum of this weekend and add new events to the line-up as we expand the festival over the next few years.”

Hundreds join the celebration

Over 500 people attended the second annual Kilkenny Pride Parade this year. Under the theme of ‘Express Yourself’. People from the LGBTQIA+ community and allies dressed up to walk together, with banners and flags to the sound of hooting whistles and pop tunes in a joyous representation of the beauty of every person and identity. The Pride parade brings visibility to every story through the Medieval streets of Kilkenny, with hundreds more supporting from the sidelines.

The Youth Pride Committee served as this year’s grand marshals, leading the procession to Butler Gallery, where the family fun day continued with support from Ossory Youth until 5.30 pm.Speaking from the Pride Parade, Iueri Prendergast (19), Youth Pride Committee, spoke about the theme and impact of Pride celebrations for young people in Kilkenny.

“Kilkenny is a city with so many artists, and Express Yourself comes from that and the many different ways that people can express themselves. Today, people wear flags as capes or banners. They’ve made custom signs or are in face paint, doing a myriad different things,” said Iueri.

“You have people cosplaying as elves, people blowing bubbles, people with signs. It’s a great deal to show like how expressive art is and how rich humans are, and also how rich sexuality and identity are to people as well, so I would say the theme is about expression in all forms.”

Niamh says the group is thrilled to have another successful Kilkenny Pride, and is looking forward to 2027.

“We want to acknowledge the people that helped make this weekend a success, including An Garda Síochána, civil defence, sponsors and those who contributed with in-kind donations and especially to the folks who showed up on the streets of Kilkenny to offer a warm reception along the route.,” she said.

Kilkenny Pride is made possible with thanks to funding from Kilkenny County Council’s Festival Grant, private donations and sponsorship from local businesses including Walshes Toyota, Cartoon Saloon and State Street; and media partners KCLR 96fm, PR Partners and the Kilkenny People.