‘David vs Goliath' as Limerick takes on mammoth Manchester for EuroPride 2028 bid
If successful, the joint bid from Limerick and Clare would mark the first time the international LGBTQIA+ celebration is held in Ireland.
The event, which has previously taken place in cities like Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Lisbon, could bring over 100,000 visitors and inject more than €2.5 million into the local economy.
'I move that this district work with Limerick LGBTQ Pride, The Outing Festival, and Queer Clare to provide support in their bid to bring EuroPride 2028 to the west of Ireland,' Cllr Hickey-O'Mara told the chamber.
'If successful, the bid will be as big as Limerick City of Culture, and as big, if not bigger, than the Ryder Cup.'
Cllr Hickey-O'Mara urged immediate action from the council, to ensure the festival goes to Limerick and not Manchester.
"This is David V Goliath', he said. He urged the council to fly Progress Pride flags, provide logistical and financial support for the bid, repaint rainbow crossings, and welcome EuroPride adjudicators during Limerick Pride Week next month.
The motion brought was one of bravery by the Social Democrats councillor: 'As the only openly LGBT councillor on Limerick Council, I feel really compelled to speak about this and to tell you that things are far from fine.'
'Across the world, our community is seeing their rights being systematically rolled back. Politicians are backing away from our community, as are companies who formerly supported pride events.
'Nowhere is this more apparent than with the global targeting of the trans community, which, let's call a spade a spade, is simply regurgitated homophobia,' he stated.
He shared distressing local testimonies of harassment and discrimination. 'One person who works for Limerick Council even contacted me to say that they aren't out at work due to witnessing colleagues use homophobic language in the workplace,' he revealed.
ADVERTISEMENT
He called on his colleagues to 'educate yourself,' engage with LGBTQIA+ organisations, and 'challenge hate and disinformation, whenever and wherever you encounter it.'
Councillor Olivia O'Sullivan formally seconded the motion, saying: 'We are living in a time where there is fear and division being created in our communities.
'It's extremely important as community leaders that we set the tone,' she said. 'We need to support everyone to live safe and happy lives."
Others echoed their support. Cllr Ursula Gavan said: 'Anything that raises awareness and increases respect and tolerance has to be commended.'
Cllr Sarah Beasley noted: 'To think that a community in this day and age, 10 years after the referendum, are still struggling, it's very hurtful to see.'
In support, Cllr Maria Donoghue, suggested branding the event as the Prider Cup 'just to kind of ride on the Ryder Cup thing for the name!'
Eileen Coleman, Senior Executive Officer for Tourism, said: 'We are happy to support the bid and have already met with the organisers.'
She confirmed the council would 'take on board all the proposals mentioned' and provide an update at the next meeting.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
5 hours ago
- The Journal
JP McManus to address Limerick councillors after Rugby Expo 'gift' snubbed by local authority
BUSINESSMAN JP MCMANUS is to address the Mayor of Limerick and elected representatives at a closed-door meeting at Limerick City and County Council headquarters next week. The group will discuss why the council's controversial decision to decline his 'gift' of the €30m International Rugby Experience building on O'Connell Street in Limerick City as well as €1.2m in operating costs. It is understood that McManus hopes to set the record straight over costs associated with the charitable venture, which fell through over a difference of opinion between them around the costs of operating the building. The building, built to honour rugby, was launched by a host of rugby stars in 2023 and has been gathering dust since its shock closure last December . Fifty people were employed at the International Rugby Experience. It delivered an estimated €7.8m boost to the local economy and received 60,000 visitors in the 12 months that it was open. McManus, who secured the 2027 Ryder Cup for Limerick at his five-star Adare Manor Hotel, is to address the council on Thursday. Mayor of Limerick John Moran, senior executives and elected representatives will be in attendance. Limerick Fianna Fáil TD Willie O'Dea has been critical of the council's decision to decline McManus's 'generous offer'. He said: 'The gift horse is still there and the council is still looking at it in the mouth.' Advertisement 'My view is that it is a fantastic facility for Limerick and certain commitments were made by the council,' he said. 'It seems to me they weren't honoured. It's a tragedy to see it closed down now.' Labour councillor Joe Leddin argued that while he accepted the council executive and Moran had concerns about the future cost of running the building, the planned meeting with McManus on Thursday was a 'welcome' development. He said: 'To be fair to JP, he expended €30million+ on the acquisition of the old building, the design and rebuild and operations, and it's unfortunate now to see the facility closed in the heart of the city.' The International Rugby Experience was offered to the council last May as a 'debt-free gift'. It was proposed that the council would continue running the exhibition until 2028 and then, if it wished, the local authority could take control of the building for civic purposes. An agreement was reached in March 2024 with the local authority when the Head of Terms were signed by both parties, the International Rugby Experience claims. However, it was 'unable to advance' the deal and the building closed. In response, Limerick City Council said it was 'disappointed' with the International Rugby Experience's decision to close its doors and argued that it had made 'very effort' to secure the deal. It added that it was 'unable to secure a viable path forward' after finding it would have had to find 'substantial operational and capital funding' to continue the project. Chief executive of the experience Barry Hannon has claimed that the figures presented to councillors were 'over inflated'. Moran had offered to use €300,000 from the Mayoral fund to keep the building open, but the offer was rejected. McManus will address councillors about his disappointment at how the deal has turned sour, it is understood. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Calls to fix ‘cumbersome' Limerick housing grants failing first-time city buyers
'These grants are not working,' said Social Democrats' Elisa O'Donovan, 'we need more people living in our city centre.' 'I know so many people who want to live in the city centre. However, it is so expensive for them to do up a derelict property or an old Georgian house,' she added. Referring to the Living City Initiative, she said: 'The number of successful applicants for that initiative and for that grant has gone from 24 successful applicants in 2022 to only nine last year, and that's both for residential and commercial.' On other schemes, she added: 'Only one private residence in the metropolitan area was awarded funding last year' through the Historic Structures Fund. 'The only people that I know who have been successful in getting this grant in Limerick city are property developers or landlords,' she continued, referring to the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant which can get a prospective applicant up to €70,000. 'I just know one person who was eligible for this to have it as their primary residence, but then eventually they rented it out, and now they actually have multiple properties within the city centre.' She concluded: 'I believe we should write to the government to ensure that first-time buyers, those who need that €70,000 to renovate a city centre property and make it their home, are prioritised for this funding, so we can create a more liveable city.' 'These houses in the city centre, they're not just investments for developers and landlords. They are possible homes for people,' said Cllr Shane Hickey-O'Mara, who seconded the motion. 'We need life in the city desperately.' Cllr Maria Donoghue added: 'A lot of our grant schemes for capital works are quite onerous and cumbersome. 'You have to spend the money up front before you can get the grant. I support anything that brings life into the city, but if you need the money up front in order to access the money, well then it's a circuitous and ineffective grant and we should look at it.' 'Anything that brings life back into the city and helps us become a liveable city, it has to be commended,' said Cllr Ursula Gavan.
Irish Independent
12 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘David vs Goliath' as Limerick takes on mammoth Manchester for EuroPride 2028 bid
If successful, the joint bid from Limerick and Clare would mark the first time the international LGBTQIA+ celebration is held in Ireland. The event, which has previously taken place in cities like Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Lisbon, could bring over 100,000 visitors and inject more than €2.5 million into the local economy. 'I move that this district work with Limerick LGBTQ Pride, The Outing Festival, and Queer Clare to provide support in their bid to bring EuroPride 2028 to the west of Ireland,' Cllr Hickey-O'Mara told the chamber. 'If successful, the bid will be as big as Limerick City of Culture, and as big, if not bigger, than the Ryder Cup.' Cllr Hickey-O'Mara urged immediate action from the council, to ensure the festival goes to Limerick and not Manchester. "This is David V Goliath', he said. He urged the council to fly Progress Pride flags, provide logistical and financial support for the bid, repaint rainbow crossings, and welcome EuroPride adjudicators during Limerick Pride Week next month. The motion brought was one of bravery by the Social Democrats councillor: 'As the only openly LGBT councillor on Limerick Council, I feel really compelled to speak about this and to tell you that things are far from fine.' 'Across the world, our community is seeing their rights being systematically rolled back. Politicians are backing away from our community, as are companies who formerly supported pride events. 'Nowhere is this more apparent than with the global targeting of the trans community, which, let's call a spade a spade, is simply regurgitated homophobia,' he stated. He shared distressing local testimonies of harassment and discrimination. 'One person who works for Limerick Council even contacted me to say that they aren't out at work due to witnessing colleagues use homophobic language in the workplace,' he revealed. ADVERTISEMENT He called on his colleagues to 'educate yourself,' engage with LGBTQIA+ organisations, and 'challenge hate and disinformation, whenever and wherever you encounter it.' Councillor Olivia O'Sullivan formally seconded the motion, saying: 'We are living in a time where there is fear and division being created in our communities. 'It's extremely important as community leaders that we set the tone,' she said. 'We need to support everyone to live safe and happy lives." Others echoed their support. Cllr Ursula Gavan said: 'Anything that raises awareness and increases respect and tolerance has to be commended.' Cllr Sarah Beasley noted: 'To think that a community in this day and age, 10 years after the referendum, are still struggling, it's very hurtful to see.' In support, Cllr Maria Donoghue, suggested branding the event as the Prider Cup 'just to kind of ride on the Ryder Cup thing for the name!' Eileen Coleman, Senior Executive Officer for Tourism, said: 'We are happy to support the bid and have already met with the organisers.' She confirmed the council would 'take on board all the proposals mentioned' and provide an update at the next meeting.
