By Andy Spearman

Today should have been a happy time for Peter James Nugent as he raised the rainbow flag at Millmount Tower, the highest point of the town, to launch the Drogheda Pride Festivities.

But Peter was in uncharacteristically downbeat mood as he told Drogheda Life that he is in a mood to give up on the festival which he has organised since its inception ten years ago.

“Tickets sales for our events are almost non-existent, we have had little or no funding and support is at an all-time low” he said. “Joanna Byrne gave us some of her discretionary funding, but she was the only councillor to do so and not one of them attended today’s launch despite all of them being invited.”

It is important to acknowledge that some sponsorship was sourced from Bus Eireann, Millmount Pharmacy, and Tourism Ireland for which Peter expressed his deepest gratitude. 

Worse than the financial worries however, is the daily abuse that Peter and his colleagues receives on social media and also in person.

Narrow minded bigotry is not a new phenomenon in this country, it destroyed many lives in the past, especially in the six northern counties, but it seems that the lessons have not been learned.

The main channel for the 21^st century bigot to vent their spleen is the various social media platforms and it is widely used as a tool for spreading hatred. It seems there are people out there who are consumed by an irrational fear of difference.

Whether that difference is in religion, ethnic background, skin colour, sexual orientation or political persuasion doesn’t matter to those who think it is their God-given right to spread their narrow-minded hatred.

It surfaced during the recent local elections when the hate campaign reached epidemic proportions with vile comments aimed at several candidates, especially women, in this constituency and many others.

SO, it would be very nice if the good people pf Drogheda, and I honestly think you are the majority, turned out in your thousands (even hundreds) to support the Pride parade which is taking place tomorrow starting from King Street car park at 12 noon everyone is welcome.

When you are finished waving the Pride parade along in West Street tomorrow (July 20th), why not stand with Palestine for a few minutes at the steps of St. Peter’s Church?

For details of all the Drogheda Pride Festival events CLICK HERE