June 3, 2009
Headline: €30k boost for Mad Pride Day
THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT
WITH DEIRDRE O'REILLY
€30k boost for Mad Pride Day. THE organisers of Mad Pride day in Cork have received a boost after a private foundation donated €30,000 to help fund the annual, family fun event for the next three years. Thousands of people are expected to attend this year's free event following the successful day held in Fitzgerald Park last year. John Spillane will headline this year's musical entertainment, while storytellers, clowns, puppeteers and an international food market will keep all ages entertained.
RTE has confirmed it will attend this year's event to film for Nationwide, which will be screened on July 10, two days before the inaugural Mad Pride Day in Laois.
Organiser and mental health campaigner John McCarthy has also received an anonymous donation to help continue the event beyond this year. The Health Service Executive (HSE), Cork City Council and Bord Gais have already agreed to sponsor the event again this year.
John McCarthy said: "Last year was such a success that if we have the same level of support again this year it will be fantastic. "We have Cork's leading trouhadour performing in John Spillane and it is a wonderful endorsement from John for what we are trying to do in removing stigma," he said. The second Mad Pride Family Fun Day will be launched at a reception at Cork Vision Centre on North Main Street on Tuesday, June 1.
MEP Kathy Sinnot and Senator Dan Boyle will be present at the launch, which will take place at Fitzgerald Park, Cork on Sunday, June 7, from 1pm to 5pm. See www.madprideireland.ie for more information.
