Under the glow of rainbows…

UNDER the warm light of Saturday’s golden September sun and the glow of dozens of rainbow flags, Omagh’s second Pride parade departed from Main Street just after 2pm in celebration – and deafening cheer.

Organised by event founders, Cat Brogan of Omagh and Lorraine Montague of Drumquin, the town truly was a hive of energy as the colourful cavalcade of hundreds of folks from Tyrone, and far, far beyond, marched, danced and jumped their way through the specially-laid out route.

Hundreds of onlookers lined the roads, too, to witness the blazing spectacle – the second event of its kind, as the merry marchers made their way in kaleidoscopic splendour from the starting point at Main Street Car Park, across locations, including Scarffe’s Entry, the Omagh Bus Depot, Bridge Street, the Strule Arts Centre, the heart of the town, and the famous Omagh Courthouse.

Given the flawless fervour and seemless proceedings, one never would have suspected that Omagh Pride had encountered a last-minute venue change – but that was exactly what had happened!

The parade was originally supposed to begin at the South West College car park, but the change to Main Street was announced just the day before – and, so, at 4pm on Friday, work began in hectic earnest at the new venue to set up shop. No mean feat for all involved – but all’s well that ends well!

And this parade CERTAINLY ended well; as, the afterparty raved on well into the early hours, with Main Street absolutely booming in every possible definition of the phrase.

Organiser Cat Brogan’s aim was for 2022’s parade to be ‘bigger and better’ than last year’s.

And to say this was achieved is an understatement.

Perhaps she said it best, when she beamed,“What a day! What a night!”