Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), is today launching an interactive StoryMap on The History of Pride in Ireland. Based on Esri’s digital mapping platform, the map allows users to explore the major historic places and dates which have helped lead to positive change and progress for members of the LGBTQ+ community across Ireland.
The timeline of the Irish Pride movement encompasses foundational events as far back as June 1974, when 10 people marched to the British Embassy in Dublin to protest against the criminalisation of homosexuality. The map provides information on the first official Pride Week in the city in 1979, through large scale LGBTQ+ protests in the 1980s and up to the same-sex marriage referendum in 2015.
The StoryMap blends together maps, images, text, embedded videos and tweets, and links to further articles and information to present a comprehensive history of the Pride movement. Today, it has grown into one of the biggest festivals celebrated in Ireland, with tens of thousands attending the 40th anniversary of the very first Pride Festival last year.
Due to COVID- 19, this year’s festival was moved to a digital format, with the StoryMap providing all the relevant links for anyone wishing to learn more about the virtual parade and concert set to take place on Sunday, June 28th 2020. The StoryMap is available to view at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/df083b34c03f4f52ac166adcb60a871a