THE Police Service of Northern Ireland is to join the Dublin Pride parade for the first time this weekend after accepting an invitation from An Garda Síochána.
Uniformed PSNI officers will parade alongside uniformed Gardaí when the event kicks off in Dublin city centre on Saturday afternoon.
The march will also mark the first time Gardaí have taken part in Dublin Pride while in uniform.
It comes two years after members of the PSNI marched in the Belfast Pride parade for the first time in uniform back in 2017.
In a statement, PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin said: "Following an invitation from An Garda Síochána Commissioner, Drew Harris, the Chief Constable, George Hamilton has given permission for PSNI officers, to take part in the Dublin Pride Parade, in uniform, on Saturday 29th June.
We are absolutely delighted to announce that the proposed route for the 2019 #DublinPride Parade and March will see us return to the very heart of our city! 🌈🌈🌈 The parade will assemble on Parnell Sq on Sat, June 29th and will end in Merrion Square with a free outdoor event. pic.twitter.com/igpuFjftuo
— Dublin LGBTQ Pride (@DublinPride) 5 April 2019
"Police Service staff will also be attending. This will be the first time that Officers, in uniform, and staff, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland have taken part in Dublin Pride on foot of an invitation.
"Over the last few years, officers from An Garda Síochána have participated with us as part of Belfast Pride.
"Pride is an important series of events for those who identify as being LGBTQ and we see this as an opportunity to continue to support, and build upon our relationship with, the LGBTQ community and our colleagues in An Garda Síochána."
This year's Dublin Pride parade will kick off at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square at 1pm on Saturday.
The march will coincide with the 50th anniversary of Stonewall riots, a series of violent protests by the New York gay community against police there in 1969.
