Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)

We welcome the progress secured by the LGBTQI+ community in recent years. The rights obtained were hard fought for over many decades by activists who refused to be deterred in their fight to be recognised as equal before the law. Despite the clear progress we have seen, in many areas the struggle for full LGBTQI+ equality is far from over. Many areas of inequality remain and more work is required in order to ensure that true equality is achieved. It is as important we have statements like this in 2025 as it has ever been. It is only fitting we have allocated time in the schedule to allow us to stand up and say what Pride is and what it means to us.

Pride is a movement close to my heart. In my first year as a county councillor in Louth in 2016, I cut the ribbon to officially start the first ever Drogheda Pride celebration and did so each year afterwards until this year. I have marched in Drogheda Pride’s parades, attended its events I was and am keen to show our LGBTQI+ family, friends and neighbours modern Ireland is friendly, welcoming and accepting. I campaigned for the “Yes” vote that the people enthusiastically gave in the marriage equality referendum in 2015. Friendships and connections were made with social justice campaigners at that time and these carried into the referendum to repeal the eighth, which resulted in another enthusiastic “Yes” from the people.

Some people may think the battles are all won and there is no need for Pride any more, but, unfortunately, that could not be further from the truth. In 2022, I put forward a motion to Louth County Council asking for a rainbow Pride pedestrian crossing in my hometown of Drogheda. We have seen them all over Ireland and throughout Europe, and other Deputies referred to those in their areas. I had the support of all other councillors from all parties and none and council officials informed me they were supportive of the rainbow Pride crossing. Councillors from Ardee and Dundalk asked for the same rainbow Pride crossings in their municipal districts too. We were waiting to hear from the then chief executive of Louth County Council about how and when we would proceed when they stopped answering our calls and emails. There was a stone wall of silence. The then chief executive said there was no agreement on providing the rainbow Pride crossings, which minutes of meetings proved false, and at a full county council meeting, she refused point-blank to allow any further discussion on the matter. This led the majority of Louth county councillors of all parties and none to walk out in protest. That was only a few years ago. It showed all those who followed that Pride is still needed.

There are many challenges facing the LGBTQI+ community, such as those relating to youth homelessness, mental health and violence. These are things we all need to redouble our efforts to address.

Pride seeks to address those issues as an unbelievably happy and positive social justice movement that is quite unique. Everyone who supports Pride should be proud of it. I know I am.

I am proud of the strides made by Drogheda Pride and Outcomers in offering awareness, integration and advocacy for LGBTQI+ communities throughout the wee county of Louth.

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