A fun and inspiring line-up at Cork Pride 2025

The city is set to shine bright as Cork Pride 2025 bursts onto the streets later this month, with its vibrant celebration of LGBTQIA+ identity, resilience, and community.

This year’s festival promises to be a powerful mix of activism, entertainment, and togetherness all under the theme of ‘A Fearless Future’.

From the colourful parade weaving through the city to thought-provoking panels, inclusive family events, electric nightlife plus some new events added to the schedule, Cork Pride 2025 is more than a festival - it’s a celebration of a thriving Cork community.

Whether you’re a lifelong ally or a first-time visitor, there’s never been a better time to stand proud in the Rebel City.

With an ever-changing social and political landscape being navigated by Ireland’s LGBTQ community, I asked Damien O’ Halloran of Cork Pride’s committee, why he feels Cork Pride is so important this year:

“Cork Pride 2025 holds particular significance as we mark the 10-year anniversary of marriage equality in Ireland, a moment that changed the course of our nation’s history and firmly placed Ireland on the global stage as a leader in LGBT+ rights. For many people in Cork and across the country, that historic vote wasn’t just about legal recognition, it was about being seen, valued, and included.

“This year’s festival is a time to reflect on how far we’ve come as a society. It’s a chance to honour the activists, some of whom are no longer with us; the campaigners, and everyday people who made equality a reality, while also recognising the journey isn’t over. While huge progress has been made in terms of human rights, inclusion, and visibility, there is still vital work to be done, particularly in supporting trans rights, tackling hate speech, and ensuring that LGBT+ people in rural areas, schools, and workplaces feel safe and supported.

“The Cork Pride 2025 Festival is not just a celebration, it’s a call to continue striving for a fairer, more equal Ireland for everyone. And in a city like Cork, where community spirit and solidarity run deep, that call will be heard loud and proud,” Damien added.

Every year, the Cork Pride committee comes up with a theme that they feel reflects the current sentiments of the community. The words ‘A Fearless Future’ sets the tone this year. While it may feel intuitive to some in the LGBTQ community why this was chosen, I asked Damien to explain its importance.

“‘A Fearless Future’ is almost a rhetorical question, because can we truly say our future is fearless? While we proudly celebrate the immense progress made over the past decade, including the landmark achievement of marriage equality, we cannot ignore the global reality: LGBT+ rights are being rolled back and banned in many parts of the world.

“Hard-won rights can be undone with the stroke of a pen. What took years, sometimes decades, of activism, protest, and dialogue to achieve can be dismantled overnight by policy changes or political agendas. That’s why this theme is both a celebration of resilience and a powerful call to action and protest.

“‘A Fearless Future’ challenges us to remain vigilant, to stand in solidarity with LGBT+ communities facing oppression, and to never take human rights for granted. It reminds us progress is not permanent unless we protect it and that the future we want must be fearlessly fought for,” Damien explained.

Does he have any advice for those who may feel apprehension or if they have any worries around attending Cork Pride for the first time:

“My advice? Be yourself, explore what interests you, and don’t feel pressured to attend everything, go to the events you’re drawn to. Cork Pride is about visibility, inclusion, and fun, so whether it’s your first time or your 15th, you’ll be welcomed with open arms. Just show up, be proud, and enjoy the celebration, you are pride!” he shared.

What are some of his highlights this year?

“It’s genuinely hard to pick just one event,” said Damien, “we have such an exciting and meaningful line-up this year! One of the standout highlights is our week-long exhibition at St Peter’s in collaboration with the Cork LGBT+ Archive, marking the 10-year anniversary of Marriage Equality in Ireland. It’s a powerful and emotional collection of original campaign materials, personal memorabilia, posters, and archival treasures that tell the story of a truly historic moment. It’s free and open to all throughout the week of Pride. We’re also thrilled to host a special panel discussion at St Peter’s on Thursday, July 31, at 6pm, featuring celebrated activists including TD Padraig Rice and Gráinne Healy, two key figures in the Yes Equality campaign. It promises to be an inspiring evening of reflection and forward-looking conversation.

“Another personal highlight is our LGBTQ+ Sports Panel, a first for Cork Pride, at The River Lee Hotel on Wednesday, July 30, at 7pm. This groundbreaking event will shine a national spotlight on LGBTQ+ visibility in Irish sport. The panel features an incredible line-up, including Fiona Hayes (MC), David Gough, Valerie Mulcahy, Kevin Penrose, Lindsay Peat, and Eoghan Cormican, a real who’s who of trailblazers in Irish sport.

“Of course, the Family Fun Day in Fitzgerald Park on Saturday, August 2, is always a favourite. It’s a free, fun-filled day for all ages, with a dog show, face painting, funfair rides, live music, and so much more. Then there’s the heart of it all, the Pride Parade, kicking off at 1pm on Sunday, August 3, from the Grand Parade, winding through the city to the Party at the Port. With headline acts The Cheeky Girls, Abbaesque, stunning drag performances, DJs, and hosts Paul Ryder and Izzy Showbizzy, it’s shaping up to be our biggest and boldest celebration yet!”

Cork Pride kicks off Saturday, July 26. A full lineup of events and information can be found on their website, corkpride.com.