!Postponed! First ever county-wide Clare Pride Festival set for Bank Holiday weekend

!Postponed! First ever county-wide Clare Pride Festival set for Bank Holiday weekend

Please note that these events have been postponed until further notice due to Covid-19 case numbers and continuing restrictions.

First ever county-wide Clare Pride Festival set for Bank Holiday weekend

LGBTQ+ events across Banner will lead to Quare Clare Pride Party at Hotel Doolin at 8pm on Sunday 24th October

History will be made in the Banner this month when the first ever county-wide Clare Pride Festival takes place during the October Bank Holiday weekend. A day of free events in towns across Clare on Sunday 24th October, organised by Quare Clare, will culminate in a fantastic Pride Party in Hotel Doolin with cabaret, DJ and finger food.

The Quare Clare Pride Party will kick off at 8pm at Hotel Doolin, with a ticket price of just €12 and with free tickets available to anyone who might find the cost a barrier to having a fantastic pride night. The party, which is for over-18s only, is kindly sponsored by Hotel Doolin.

Get your ticket here:
https://clareprideparty2021.eventbrite.ie

Places to stay in and near Doolin:
https://doolin.ie/plan-your-trip/places-to-stay/

One of the Quare Clare organisers, Sarah Clancy, who works for Clare PPN and is herself a member of the LGBTQ+ community said: “This is going to be a fantastic weekend for Clare’s LGBTQ+ community and for people who we hope will travel from around Ireland to be with us this weekend. We want our community to be visible and connected to the wider community in Clare.

“We want young and older people in the towns and villages around Ireland to see how rural Ireland too can embrace difference. What better way for us to connect and celebrate than to let Clare do what it’s good at – host one hell of a Pride Party this October.”

Elaine D’Alton of Clare Women’s Network said:
“A series of Pride events in towns across the county will take place during the day on Sunday 24th October, finishing up in Doolin in time for the Pride Party. Details of these daytime events which will be free and open to all, will be announced very shortly.

“The ticket price for the party at Hotel Doolin includes a contribution to a ticket for someone who might otherwise not be able to afford it. Anyone in this position should select a free ticket on the booking form, but for those who can afford it we’d appreciate if they could pay for their ticket.”

“We are inviting people from across Ireland to Clare Pride Festival and we will share options for accommodation in Doolin on www.clareppn.ie and email them to everyone who books a ticket. On Monday 25th October, the mood will be more chilled, with ‘morning after’ activities organised including yoga and meditation, followed by a good-bye cuppa to send everyone on their way.”

“Anyone travelling to Clare and making a weekend of it will be able to take in a hike along the Cliffs of Moher or enjoy some of the beautiful scenery the day after.”

Quare Clare is a new group that has held online meetings and social events. Anyone from the LGBTQ+ community in Clare who would like to get involved in Quare Clare can email lgbtq.clare@gmail.com to find out more.

Quare Clare was established as the result of a short-term project run jointly by Clare Public Participation Network, Clare Women’s Network, Clare Local Development Company, Rape Crisis Midwest and GOSHH! and supported by The Department of Rural and Community Development and Clare County Council.

Quare Clare is on Facebook at:
Quare Clare – LGBTQ+Clare

And on Twitter:
@LGBTQ_Clare

You can book a ticket for the Quare Clare Pride Party at this Eventbrite link:
https://clareprideparty2021.eventbrite.ie

Places to stay in and near Doolin:
https://doolin.ie/plan-your-trip/places-to-stay/

Clare’s coming out! – Webinar for LGBTQ+ people, their families & friends in Clare

Clare’s coming out! – Webinar for LGBTQ+ people, their families & friends in Clare

Clare’s coming out! – webinar for LGBTQ+ people, their families & friends in Clare

Information event on July 7th to feature Mayo GAA star Fiona McHale and speakers from LGBTQ+ support organisations

An event to mark Pride Month in Clare will offer help to communities and organisations on how they can best support the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people. The webinar, on July 7th, will be of interest to LGBTQ+ people living in Clare, their families and friends and anyone who wants to support them. 

The information event, hosted by Quare Clare and Clare Sports Partnership, will feature Mayo All-Star footballer Fiona McHale, who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Fiona is also a PhD researcher in Physical activity & Health at the University of Limerick. 

Representatives of Belong To, GOSHH and LINC, three of the support and community organisations available to LGBTQ+ people and their families in Ireland, will also speak at the webinar. 

The webinar will take place from 7:30pm on Wednesday, July 7th, and you can register to take part at this Eventbrite link:
https://clare-coming-out.eventbrite.ie

Bernie O’Gorman of Quare Clare said:
“An online survey we conducted in March highlighted an urgent need for supports and services for the LGBTQ+ community Clare. 80% of people who responded said they would like more connection with other LGBTQ+ people in the county.

“Over half of all respondents did not feel sufficiently connected and supported in their community, and it was clear from written responses that there is a big demand for a social outlet or LGBTQ+ group in Clare.”

Belong To is a national organisation that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans young people in Ireland.
https://www.belongto.org/

GOSHH! (Gender, Orientation, Sexual Health and HIV) is based in Limerick but also works to support LGBTQ+ people in Clare.
https://goshh.ie/

LINC is based in Cork and advocates for Lesbian and Bisexual Women in Ireland.
https://www.linc.ie/about/

Quare Clare is a new group that has held online meetings and in May ran a very successful ‘Quare Quiz’ social event. Anyone from the LGBTQ+ community in Clare who would like to get involved in Quare Clare can email lgbtq.clare@gmail.com to find out more. 

Quare Clare was established as the result of a short-term project run jointly by Clare Public Participation Network, Clare Women’s Network, Clare Local Development Company and Rape Crisis Midwest, and supported by The Department of Rural and Community Development and Clare County Council. For this Pride Month event, they are delighted to be joined by Clare Sports Partnership, who are also keen to publicly demonstrate their commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusivity.