The festival is running from the 23rd to the 28th of August this year and their is a huge number of events within those few days! The main event (parade)” takes place on the 27th at 2pm so grab your rainbow everything and represent!! Bring your friends!!

Find out more here

Civil Partnership is NOT equality.

We ask you, your friends, your family and your co-workers to MARCH FOR MARRIAGE in Dublin on Sunday 14th August 2011.

We will be meeting at 3pm by city hall at the top of Parliament street.

Bring as many people as you can and let’s make some Noise about inequality. Civil Partnership is NOT equality and we need to make sure that our voices are heard by the Government, we need to make sure that we will not have to settle for less than full equality and equal rights for ALL.

See you all there, Love and Noise,

The Noise team.

Northwest LGBT Pride is an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and LGBT-friendly individuals living or from the North-west and surrounding areas of Ireland, including Sligo, Donegal and Leitrim and beyond. This years Festival is running from 9th to the 14th August with the Parade taking place on August 13th at 3pm. There is a very impressive line up of events this year including…

Tuesday 9th…
BeLonGTo LGBT Youth Services & Sligo/Mayo Initiative for LGBT Youth

Wednesday 10th…
‘Great Sex – How to have Mutually Satisfying Sensuous Safer Sex’
AIDS West present an interactive, fun and informative workshop for LGBT
people of all genders and ages that will whet your appetite and help you enjoy
the Pride festivities even more!
Glasshouse Hotel, Sligo / 7.30pm / FREE

8:30pm LAUNCH EVENT: WELCOME TO NORTHWEST PRIDE!
9:15pm A Queer Night in Berlin
Come enjoy the seedy glamour of a late night Cabaret in Queerest
Berlin, hosted by Over the Rainbow Theatre Group and North West
Pride. Join a cast of men with shady pasts and femme fatales with attitude, as
they take you on a journey around the darker recesses of late night entertainment.
Seedy in the most glamorous of ways, dress up to the nines and become
part of the action. Fabulous prizes for the best dressed punters!
Glasshouse Hotel View Bar / €10(€5 concessions)

Thursday 11th
7:30pm Launch of multi-media arts exhibition ‘FREEDOM 2′
At Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim
In partnership with LSC Summer Open Exhibition / 7.30pm / FREE
[Transport provided from Clarion Village Apartments, Sligo leaving 6.45pm]

Thursday 11th
‘Living it Up in Leitrim’
In a new partnership, the North Leitrim Women’s Centre welcome everyone to
an evening of Leitrim hospitality. Join us for entertainments including the firstever
Leitrim heats of Ms Gay Leitrim & Mr Gay Leitrim
[entry forms available from northwestpride@gmail.com]
DJ Martina will have us dancing the night away!
Bee Park Resource Centre, Manorhamilton / 9.30pm / €5.00
[transport returns to Clarion Village Apartments after the event]

Friday 12th
Meet & Greet:
Collect your apartment keys between10am – 9pm from Clarion Village Apartments,
Sligo. Look out for the rainbow flag!
Youth Pride! A fabulous afternoon and evening of youth activities, in association
with BeLonGTo LGBT Youth Services and National Network of LGBT
Youth Groups. For young people aged 14-23.
Booking Essential: contact Glenn Keating in BeLonGTo on 087
276 8375 or glenn@belongto.org.

Hillwalk to Knocknarea
Enjoy the best views of our amazing area from the slopes of Knocknarea, guided
by our Scottish visitors from BBLAGG (Borders Bisexual, Lesbian &
Gay Group.) Not a particularly challenging hill walk, with suitable dropping-out
points for the more…shall we say relaxed, walker. Still, stout shoes or boots are
essential! No dogs except Guide/Assistance Dogs.
Meet at Clarion Village Apartments / 2pm / FREE

A Fine Function: An Evening in 3 parts with Something for Everyone…
Part 1: 7:00pm The Return of the NW Pride Table Quiz. Just like
the soaps – we killed it, you missed it, we brought it back to life! The NW Pride Quiz is back. Brainiacs take note – this is a quiz with a twist and various skills and experience may be required. Come with your friends or come alone
and find a team to join. All are welcome.
Part 2. 9:00pm OhSoGay Karaoke. Karaoke
Kings and Queens are invited to give us the performance
of their lives, under the expert supervision
of Sligo’s all singing, interpretive dancing
sensation, Ms Claudia Shifter. At 6’6″ (in heels) she can seem intimidating
but is actually most likely to wink at you and say “howaya!”. She lives in
Sligo with her pet fish Wanda. Also this evening, fresh from the Rainbow
Club, Donegal drag queens Scarlett Rose and St Lucy Lashes of Letterkenny
will be giving it loads…
Part 3: 10:00pm Hit the dancefloor with Camp Classics and more
from OutWest’s favourite DJ, Betty Herring.

Saturday 13th
NORTHWEST PRIDE PARADE!!!
Assemble from 1.30pm at City Hall, Sligo
Butterflies, Beauty and Bounce as we take to the streets in celebration
of our lovely selves. All friends, family and allies welcome!
Bring your banners, your bubbles & join in the joy!
Parade moves off 3pm sharp.

Post-Parade Chill-Out @ Glasshouse Hotel 4 – 6pm
Relax in that post-parade glow and sample the Glasshouse’s lovely menu.
‘PRIDING HIGH’ – THE PRIDE PARTY
With the fabulous LOUNGE LIZARDS, Twanda Faux-
Knightley & DJ Proud Mary
Glasshouse Hotel / Doors open 10pm / €12(€10 concessions

Sunday 14th
The famous BEACH BBQ with welly-throwing, paddling and other
delights!
Location: probably Culleenamore but check website for updates.
Bus & car-pool leaves Clarion Pride Village Apartments 1pm, returns 6pm.

Wind-Down at McGarrigle’s pub and The Glasshouse Hotel
8pm onwards

Folow Northwest Pride here to keep up to date with their plans.

Dublin Pride Festival Launch Night
Join Davina our delicious host! She’ll be joined by bands,
drag queens, community to wow and inspire, followed by staggering international special guests.

Venue: The George
Time: 8pm ‘till late!
Admission: €5 before 11pm.

Royseven
Royseven didnʼt meet in school or college like many other bands; they met through mutual friends – and an advert in a Dublin music magazine. Three years since Roysevenʼs debut offering, “The Art of Insincerity”, was released to critical acclaim; complete with top ten singles, top twenty album charting, support and headline tours across Europe and notable appearances at Rock AM Ring, Rock IM Park and Oxegen, to name but a few festivals.
A year or two of writing songs, travelling around Ireland, recording demos, playing TV and radio shows followed. But throughout the gigs, travelling and rehearsals, they were actually, unknowingly, laying the foundations for their best work and with “You Say, We Say” it felt as if theyʼd finally arrived.”

Adela and the Meanits
Catapulted from years of abject obscurity in the Irish midlands, Adela and the Meanits are quickly gaining a reputation as “one of the best, quirky and most original acts to hit the Irish scene in years” Having recently played the world famous music and arts festival, Electric Picnic 09, Adela and the Meanits are set to release their debut album just in time for this years summer festivals. .. After a chance encounter on a St Patrickʼs Day float in Portlaoise, Adela met drummer Ros Oʼ Meara. Then a member of several bands, Ros introduced Adela to Barry Hayes who in turn introduced everyone to John Davidson. Like peas in a far out pod…they became Adela and the Meanits… Nominated as Best Female at the Balcony TV Awards 07, and hyped as the “new queen of the local indie scene” by Hot Press, Adela has also made a video ʻParty for Threeʼ with the New York Film University. The song has been described as “Sesame Street on craic” and as having “hit written all over it” according to John Creedon of RTE Radio 1. .. Their music has been likened to Madness, Sultans of Ping and Lily Allen, but comparisons aside, Adela and the Meanits have an infectious, happy buzz in their sound. .. .. ..
So far Adela has played support to John Spillane, Eleanor McEvoy, Liam O Maoinlai, Don Mescall, Gavin Glass, Juliet Turner Damien Dempsey, Mick Flannery and Arthur Ebeling.

Demi Whore
A Dublin drag-queen, she has worked with some of the biggest names of the scene – Annie Balls (The George), Veda and Davina ( Space n Veda the George ), Queen Imeria ( The George, Mardi Graz Spirit ) and Twiggy (Panti Bar), not to mention Dublin Pride itself. Her inspiration has comes from Diana Ross, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Annie Lennox and Tina Turner – all divas in their own right.

Mangina Jones
Alternative Miss Ireland 2011, Mangina Jones is a drag-queen with a difference. Bringing the alt-butch-drag to Bunnyʼs Hutch, while holding the position of Director of the Rough Magic Theatre Company.

Leslie B. Ann
A Limerick gal, she performs regularly down in Cork. More info to come…

DJ Karen
A DJ on the scene for the last 14 years, you can catch her in The George on Sundays and the last Thursday of the month and in The Dragon on Saturdays. Her first residency was in FiFi’s, now named Odessa’s. Then she started working for The George 12 years ago. Her other homes have been The Ormond Multimedia, Sides, Shaft, The Kitchen, Pod, Red Box,Temple Bar music centre, Ri Ra’s, The hub, Danger Doyles, Traffic, Spirit, The Dragon and Wax – to name but a few.

Randall Jones on Male Hormones
Coming soon…

Ceremony of Love and Remembrance
This is an event which allows us to take time to remember our friends and loved ones who are no longer here with us to celebrate Pride. Featuring guest speakers and performers.

Venue: Beside Oscar Wilde statue, Merrion Square
Time: 6pm
Admission: Free

Dublin Pride presents Delirium Official Afterparty
DJ Zack Hadley, a popular face on the scene in Brighton and around the UK, he’ll be our headliner for the night. Having worked with Geri Halliwell and superstar DJ Anne Savage, it’s set to be absolutely kicking! A host of bands will grace your ears throughout the night along with a mammoth cabaret show. it’ll be insane!

Venue: The Purty Kitchen
Time: 21:00
Admission: €12/10 (Unemployed/Student)

Niamh Kavanagh
Niamh Kavanagh is an Irish singer is perhaps best known for winning Eurovision Song Contest 1993, held in Millstreet, County Cork, Ireland. She sang “In Your Eyes” to clinch a second consecutive win for Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest; the country went on to win Eurovision Song Contest 1994 and Eurovision Song Contest 1996. Since then she has given numerous televised performances on The Late Late Show.
The singer represented Ireland again in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 in Oslo, with the song “It’s for You”. She performed at the semi-final on 27 May 2010, finishing 9th in a field of 17 contestants, thus qualifying for the Grand Final on 29 May 2010. In the final, she finished 23rd in a field of 25 contestants, having received 25 points. Kavanagh is highly regarded among fans of the Eurovision Song Contest, and the OGAE Ireland (official Eurovision fan club) president, Diarmuid Furlong, said: “A lot of us would regard Niamh as one of the best vocalists who’s ever won “.

DJ Zack Hadley
After a successful career working as one of the UK’s leading ‘adult film’ producers and directors, working with many of Europe’s very much respected ‘adult film’ studios, Zack launched his DJ career by hitting the club scene in Brighton back in 2009 and it’s been non stop since. Zack was a HUGE success at the Gran Canaria Gay Pride festival, packing a punch with over 5000 people at the Yumbo Dance Party, with a 3 hour ‘Filthy Electro/Progressive set, he also ‘packed them’ in at The Cardiff Mardi Gras too, working along side Phil Marriott of Gaydar Radio. Zack has an impressive list of appearances which also includes; Fire, Wild Fruit, Heaven and Revenge as well as working with DJ Anne Savage and the fabulous Spice Girl herself Geri Halliwell.

DJ Eddie Kay

Eddie Kay is one Cork’s if not Ireland’s finest Dj’s and has been playing music and keeping people dancing since 1996… Eddie has played alongside and worked with the best in the business and his unique style and unmistakable sound is what has made Eddie a busy man to date.

Eddie’s current residencies include “Loafers Bar” Cork, “Simply Sundays” Cork, “Homo GoGo” Cork, and is also a regular guest at “Dublin Bears” events and “Bear Feile” and last year played at “Milk” (Europes first LGBT outdoor Festival)

DJ Tonie Walsh
His first time playing records was almost an accident. A friend, Paul Edwards, asked Tonie to stand in for him at Flikkers, in 1980. Flikkers borrowed a US system and maintained a record pool (i.e. a library of thousands of 7“ and 12” singles, many of them unique to the club and unavailable commercially elsewhere in Ireland). Bluffing his way through the evening, he had a great time and was hooked. He then spent most the 80s djing at least once a week to hundreds of very demanding LGBTs, learning how to beat mix (inspired by stunning djs like John Cronin and Liam Fitzpatrick) and building his own record collection, before going professional on his return from London in 1991. Tonie also ran events like Powderbubble and GAG, as well as getting involved with the Alternative Miss Ireland contest.

El Styra
A DJ primarily (at Bridies Bar/The George, Revival Womens Club @ Copper Alley and Bear Bingo @ Jack Nealons, which are all monthly events) and a host and MC also, she’s a multi-talented woman. She’s a bit different to the other drag queens in that she desn’t necessarily perform…
Her music is very retro: seventies disco & eighties synthpop mainly, plus some funky house and commercial chart stuff from today’s radio. In her hosting career, she has led such events as Mr Bear Northern Ireland in Belfast in 2010 and has also ran/co-hosted club nights for the Trans, Fetish and HIV+ communities.
In her spare time, she’s a writer and contributes to various LGBT forums and message boards on aspects of the gay scene and the world of drag.

Von Trash
Von Trash (born; March 19, 1985) is an Irish recording artist, writer, actor and producer. Born in Dublin, he moved to London in 2004 to pursue a career in Performance art. After training in the Central School Of Speech And Drama and The London International Film School, he returned home to study electronic music production. Last year he made it through to the finals of ‘Live and Unsigned’ in the UK out of 10,000 hopefuls and has also in the past written tracks for other artists

The Pulpit
Fast gaining a reputation as “Dublin’s sexiest band”, The Pulpit are a young electro- surf trio, comprising of Laura Lovejoy on guitar and vocals, Evan O’ Leary on synthesizer and Neil Mooney on drums.
Blending influences as varied as The Cramps and Pet Shop Boys, The Pulpit’s unique sound is a cocktail of sensual surf guitar, pounding drums and bittersweet synth-pop. Despite having only one EP to their name, The Pulpit have performed extensively throughout Dublin, as well as at festivals including Electric Picnic, MILK (Europe’s first LGBT outdoor music festival), KnockanStockan and Taste Of Dublin. The Pulpit have also been featured on Phantom FM, RTÉ 2XM, and TV3’s Ireland AM. With a live set brimming with explosive energy, The Pulpit’s number one aim is to arouse, entice and excite their audience.

The Trouble Is…
The Trouble Is… are an Irish three-piece indie pop band consisting of Pamela Connolly (guitar & lead vocal), Gavin Behan (bass & vocals), and Peter Ashmore (drums & vocals). They joined forces as teenagers after Pamela had won a 2FM song writing competition in 2007. They gained a fan base by playing gigs all over Dublin, and their infectious pop songs began winning the hearts of those who heard them. The music is characterised by catchy melodies, striking vocal harmonies and a surprisingly melancholy thematic. In 2011, the band released their self-recorded EP, ‘Human Condition’, and are currently working to promote it. Check out our youtube channel! We upload a new acoustic song, our own and some covers, every week or so.

The Ikonics
The iKonics are the hottest new band from Ireland, fronted by a wonderfully charismatic lead singer the band play a blend of smart pop with big indie rock hooks. Formed just over eight months ago the band have written and produced their self titled debut E.P. which is already kicking up interest in their hometown of Dublin. The iKonics are ones to watch in 2011…

David Jonson
London based singer who loves working hard and playing harder. David’s first single Killer reached 14 in the Club chart last year and he has just finished filming the video for his next track and started work on a album. This Summer David will be touring the country performing at most major gay pride events, club nights and private functions.
David has been working with some of the finest producers including:
Massimo Paramour
7th Heaven
Electric Allstars
Guy Schieman

Rocky T Delgado

Pride Table Quiz
Put on your think caps and head on down to Panti Bar for our Dublin Pride Table Quiz. There will be tonnes of prizes for darling dazzler and fabulous prizes for our winners! Panti is our stern quiz master.

Venue: Panti Bar
Time: 8pm
Admission:  €40 per table

Géilí
A tradition at every year’s pride, it’s an exquisite culmination of Irish music and dance along with our very own Irish dancers and guest host. Dust off your brogues and grab a partner, this is Céili – gay style!

Venue: The Front Lounge
Time: 8pm
Admission: FREE!!

Whether you’re LGBTQ, have friends or family who are, want to learn more about diversity or just want to take part in an amazing festival, Dublin Pride 2011 is a festival that features events that will interest everyone.

From Friday 17th to Sunday 26th June the festival features a non stop line up including a sports day and dog show, a day of song and poetry, dancing at The Pride ‘Geilí’ and the chance to perform on stage at the legendary Post Parade Party and the party itself which will feature a top international performer. The colourful and creative Dublin Pride Parade will take place on Saturday, 25th June and is second only to Dublin’s St Patrick’s Day Parade as the largest Parade in Ireland.

“This year, after the Civil Partnership Act and increasing acceptance of LGBTQ people,we hope that even more people, regardless of their sexuality, will celebrate diversity &campaign for full equality by attending the festival. The Dublin Pride Festival is a creative and fun festival that anyone can enjoy! The Theme of Dublin Pride 2011 is ‘It’s a Human Thing’, LGBTQ people are human beings first and foremost and should be valued and treated equally. Our aim is include people who are on the fringes of LGBTQ society in the community, increase the visibility of the LGBTQ community in Ireland and promote mutual respect and equality between all people,” said Oisín O’Reilly, Dublin LGBTQ Pride Festival Chairperson.

Walking Tour Of Historic Gay Dublin
For the third year running, Pride will host its very own
Walking Tour of Historic Gay Dublin! Organised by
a group of lesbian and gay activists, historians and
academics responsible for overseeing the historic transfer
or Ireland’s LGBTQ heritage – forever known as the Irish
Queer Archive – it’s set to be a brilliant day! Check www.
dublinpride.ie for printable guide.

Venue: Merrion Square (Oscar Wilde Statue)
Time: 2pm
Admission: Free