The first ever Pride parade has taken place in Co Fermanagh.
Enniskillen was full of colour on Saturday as rainbow flags and bunting lined the streets of the town as the procession took place.
It was met with protests as two dozen demonstrators gathered to express opposition – some participants held banners urging those taking part in the parade to “repent” .
The Parades Commission had previously been made aware of several groups and individuals intending to stage counter rallies.
First Pride parade takes place in Co Fermanagh. Pic by Press Eye.
Festivities kicked off at Enniskillen Castle after the pride march with a community family fun day getting underway featuring live entertainment, activities for children, and voluntary organisations on hand to provide information.
Organisers said they were “buzzing” ahead of the event and promised to make “plenty of noise”.
Molly Leonard never thought such an event would happen in her lifetime and said rural areas in places like Co Fermanagh can feel “maybe 10, 20 years behind everywhere else”.
The transgender woman described her own experience as “slightly more positive” than she expected.
“You do get the odd naysayer here and there, but I suppose I am one of the lucky ones,” she added.
“There’s always going to be people that disagree with who and what you are.”
Protesters during the Co Fermanagh Pride parade in Enniskillen. Pic by Press Eye.
The co-chair of Fermanagh Pride, Bernie Smith, said lots of hard work had gone into organising the event which come 23 years after the first pride parade took place in Belfast – it now attracts tens of thousands of people.
“To see the banners and the flags up the town it just brightens the whole place up,” she added.
“And to see the smiles of everyone this morning looking up and the wee children looking at the rainbows was unreal.”