MAYOR of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Brian Tierney, has welcomed a positive response from the Department for Infrastructure to a request from Foyle Pride Festival for a section one of the city’s busiest walking routes to feature the colours of the rainbow to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Foyle Pride parade.
Mayor Tierney wrote to Minister of Infrastructure, Nichola Mallon MLA, in support of an application by Foyle Pride for the Foyle Embankment greenway between the Peace Bridge and the pedestrian crossing to feature rainbow coloured artwork to mark the 10th anniversary of the event.
The Minister has confirmed in a letter back to the Mayor that the greenway can temporarily feature the artwork.
“I am delighted that Derry will join other cities around the world in celebrating the Pride movement by temporarily adding rainbow coloured artwork at the Foyle Embankment,” he said.
“Foyle Pride carry out crucial work in representing the LGBT community in the North West and campaigning for equal rights and solidarity with the global LGBT community.
“The Festival has been a wonderful and vibrant celebration of respect and diversity for over 25 years and the parade over the last 10 years has been a fitting climax of those celebrations attracting thousands of people to the city centre.
“While the parade is not possible under the current pandemic restrictions, the programme for the 2020 Festival is comprehensive and varied and I would encourage everyone in the City and District to view it on the Foyle Pride Festival Facebook page and get involved.
“I would like to express my personal thanks to Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon for accommodating this request for the rainbow artwork at one of the city’s busiest pedestrian areas.
“The request followed a series of meetings with festival organisers and is an innovative and visible way for our city to show support for the Pride movement.”
A spokesperson for the Foyle Pride Committee added: “On behalf of Foyle Pride we would like to thank Mayor Tierney for his help in facilitating and financing this art piece which will be a prominent and colourful way to celebrate this year’s festival.
“We have been meeting regularly with the Mayor to deliver this project and we have exciting future plans for a permanent art work at the Foyle Embankment.
“While this year’s festival has been tailored significantly to adhere to the current restrictions we have been delighted with the public’s response to the programme.
“You can view the programme yourself and get involved at https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/BugrCzKvkfPPJXf4867k?domain=facebook.com and through the hashtag #FoylePride2020 on social media.”
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