Dublin Pride festival kicks off Friday

Both hugely entertaining and a brilliant promotion of diversity and equality, the Dublin LGBTQ Pride Festival is one of the highlights of the summer. The 2013 edition marks the 30th Anniversary of Dublin Pride, and gets underway this weekend, running from June 21-30. As always, there is a jam-packed programme to enjoy.

The Gresham Hotel hosts a Nurses & Midwives LGBT seminar at 1.30pm on Friday. Entry is free but booking is essential.

Saturday finds Newstalk's annual Dublin Pride Special broadcasting live from The Morgan Hotel at 6pm, whilst the moving documentary Where I Am screens in the IFI at 6.45pm.

It's Family Day at Fairview Park on Sunday, before the weekend wraps up with Shirley Temple Bar's Bingo in The George.

Looking past the weekend, their will be the Voice Of Pride Grand Final, pub quizes, film screenings and parties galore.

June 29 is the day of the Pride Parade, as well as the Pride Village open air concert in Merrion Sq, featuring the likes of Blue Sun on the main stage.

Dublin Pride PR officer William Swatman says: "The objective of Pride has changed over the years in Ireland but the main aim at the forefront of the festival has always been to bring awareness to the people of the country.
"Culturally, yes, Pride has changed over the years. We have seen it move from a simple afternoon protest rally to a 10-day festival. The Pride festival has grown from strength-to-strength each year and this year will be our biggest and best ever. We are always focused on the news and development of other LGBT Community’s around the world and we will continue to always support them in their ultimate goal for equality."

Go to [link]www.dublinpride.ie[/link] for more.