Disability Pride Parade

One of the major events in the early years of CIL was the Disability Pride Parade in 1993. The following extract is taken from a news report of the time.

Disability Moving On

Pride not protest was the theme of a parade around St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, on the 12th of October organised in conjunction with the Forum of People with Disability. It was a day of celebration for disabled people from all over Ireland. The inspiration for the event came from Martin Naughton and Jana Overbo who were assisted in the months of planning by a small committee of dedicated workers. The parade was produced by Declan Gorman, Development Officer at the City Arts Centre.

On the morning of the parade things were not going according to plan: Dublin was having one of its wettest mornings for some time. However everything was ready and taken to St. Stephen's Green. All our optimism was rewarded by the large crowd that had gathered there. Jana Overbo and Martin Naughton were busy giving interviews to Gay Byrne, Gerry Ryan, 98 FM and 104 FM. Faces were painted, flags and whistles were handed out.

The parade was led out by a samba band ahead of a banner specially commissioned for the day. Hundreds of people with disability followed in glorious colour. The gardai diverted traffic and the Nissan patrols of 104FM and the black thunder landrovers of 98FM flanked the parade. Even the rain stopped! People in the offices and passers-by stopped to admire and applaud, some joined in the parade which wound its way down to a rally at the Mansion House. The Lord Mayor, Tomas Mac Giolla, welcomed us all and complimented the organisers: he undertook to pass our views on access, housing, etc. to the appropriate bodies. Adolph from Sweden speaking on behalf of the European Disability Movement, paid tribute to the courage of the Irish people and wished he could organise such an event in his own country.

Rosaleen Mc Donagh read a beautiful poem which she had written specially for the occasion. "Interference", a rock group from Cork played and Liam O Maonlai sang an Irish ballad. Everyone went home feeling proud and glad to have been part of this great day of celebration.

(taken from The Cafe Newsletter November- December 1993)

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Disability Pride Parade

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