The first incarnation of Foyle Pride kicked off in 1993 when a small group of committed activists decided it was time to make a visible stand and show the city that there was a thriving community that was being ignored and the wider community were not aware existed. The small festival then called ‘Derry Pride’ lasted for two years.
In 1995, ‘North West Pride’ was born, a 10 day festival taking in several venues giving the LGBT Community more visibility than ever in the north west of Ireland. A major launch at the Tower Museum which brought a few hundred from our community also attracted major protests from the Free Presbyterian Church, but nevertheless a fantastic 10 days was had by all.
North West Pride continued on a yearly basis until 2002 and was a Community led Festival involving a broad range of people from differing backgrounds.

Around this time a surge in the levels of homophobia led to the suspension of the Pride Festival due to concerns around safety.

In 2007 the fight back began with the big return of the festival now named Foyle Pride. This approach proved to be a huge success. A packed programme provided something for everyone including the arts, politics and partying. The festival was launched by the Minister for Social Development (Margaret Ritchie MLA) with the Pride Programme being launched by the deputy First Minister (Martin McGuinness MP MLA). Over 2500 people participated in the weeks events with the big finale attracting over 500 people at an event at the City Hotel. This was something that had never been experienced before by the LGBT Community in Foyle. The painting pink of the Free Derry Wall attracted worldwide media attention, receiving press coverage from as far afield as the USA, New Zealand and Taiwan to name but a few.

The organisers of Foyle Pride are planning an even bigger and better festival for 2008 with a programme crammed with events spread throughout the city and, for the first time including a Pride event in the neighbouring County Tyrone town of Strabane.

Have a great PRIDE 08 !