Two events to celebrate 10 years of marriage equality, progress and pride in Roscommon

Roscommon Pride and LGBT Ireland have announced a special day of celebration and reflection today Saturday, June 14th, at the Trinity Arts Centre, Castlerea, marking a decade since the community gathered there during the Marriage Equality campaign.

The day kicks off with a Rainbow Families social event from 2–4 p.m., a joyful afternoon designed for all ages. Families can enjoy children’s entertainment, refreshments, face painting, and a special creative experience with Tuesday Whitfield from Willowbrook and Glamping, who will be designing t-shirts with children and families throughout the event.

This fun-filled afternoon will be followed by a more reflective and thought-provoking gathering, a panel discussion titled “A Red Dot Amid a Sea of Green: Roscommon After the Referendum”, running from 7–8 p.m. with light refreshments served beforehand.

Roscommon-South Leitrim was the only constituency in Ireland to vote against marriage equality in 2015, making this conversation especially significant. The panel will include Séamus Dooley, current Chair of the National Union of Journalists; Lorraine Doyle, Roscommon Pride Rainbow Family Coordinator, who relocated to Roscommon with her wife and child after the referendum; Christina McHugh, editor of the Roscommon Herald; Sharon Nolan, a LGBTQIA+ activist and drag king; Jenny Maguire, President of the Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union and powerful Trans rights advocate.

This event will also mark the official launch of Roscommon Pride, an important milestone for visibility, celebration, and inclusion in the region.

Pre-registration is essential for both events. All are welcome to join in a day that blends fun, family, and thoughtful reflection on how far we’ve come—and how much further we can go.

For more information or to register, please contact willkeane@gmail.com /roscommonpride@gmail.com