Mullingar Pride 2026 celebrates community

Mullingar Pride holds its fifth annual festival in the town on September 3-6, when a vibrant and diverse line-up includes a comedy night, a punk gig, a family event, a drag, burlesque and DJ set in the Final Fence, as well as the Mullingar Pride Parade which begins in the town park at 3pm on Saturday September 5.

David Rinehart, chair of Mullingar Pride, said it will be an inclusive event, with a strong emphasis on community. “Our mission is to remind everyone that we are just ordinary people with hobbies, hopes, dreams, and a strong connection to, as well as a concern for, our community. We encourage everyone to join our celebration, whether you are LGBTQ+ community or an ally,” said David.

“At a time when homophobia appears to be returning, manifesting in frightening and even violent ways, our primary mission with Mullingar Pride is to connect with the community. We are hosting events with local groups and businesses to remind people that we are all part of the same town in the same ways as everyone else.

“We enjoy playing sports, we like playing music, we love the same pubs as everyone else. We are your neighbours, your colleagues, your cousins, your sisters, your brothers, aunts, uncles and friends.

“Something that I love about Ireland as a whole, and Mullingar specifically, is how community-focused we are. We stand up for each other and embrace our various quirks and characters, whether they are local business owners, well-known figures, or members of the queer community,” David added.

David and colleagues on the committee say it is vital that members of the LGBTQ+ community feel welcome and supported in their own communities and regional pride events are crucial for letting people know they can be themselves and love who they want.

There are more than 30 regional pride events celebrating the diversity in all communities, taking place from May to September every year. In the midlands, Athlone held its inaugural pride festival in June; Offaly Pride was in July, Longford Pride in August and Laois Pride is on September 7-13.

Mullingar Pride have a calendar of events planned for the next 12 months. “We not only have a varied schedule of events for our upcoming Pride week, but we also have many more exciting events planned for throughout the year including a comedy and music gigs, live performances (drag, burlesque, circus, and DJs), fun fundraisers (such as paint and Prosecco art events and quiz nights), a screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, a Christmas potluck dinner, an art exhibition, a historical walk through Mullingar, self-defence classes, paddleboarding, and more. Keep an eye on our social channels for updates,” said David.