Shoppers and parade-goers are noticing a surge of goodwill as President Catherine Connolly visited GOSHH in Limerick city ahead of this weekend’s Pride Parade, lending high-profile support to sexual health services, HIV prevention and trans peer support across the Mid-West. It matters because visibility drives access and reduces stigma.

Essential Takeaways

  • High-profile visit: President Catherine Connolly toured GOSHH’s offices and sexual health testing centre during Pride Week, signalling visible support for LGBT+ services.
  • Longstanding roots: GOSHH’s work traces back to the 1980s Gay Switchboard and Limerick AIDS Alliance, so its local heritage is deep and trusted.
  • Wide reach: About 2,500 people used GOSHH services last year, with outreach clinics in Kilrush, Ballyvaughan and Kilkee , services for everyone.
  • Trans community backing: Trans Limerick Community praised GOSHH’s counselling and peer support, calling the presidential visit a “vital” show of solidarity.
  • Pride momentum: The visit precedes Limerick Pride Parade on Saturday, July 11, when the city will mark visible celebration and ongoing advocacy.

A presidential boost with a warm, human touch

President Connolly’s tour had a quietly powerful feel; staff, volunteers and visitors described it as both respectful and energising. According to local reporting, she met the team and viewed the sexual health testing facilities, a symbolic nod that frontline services matter. That kind of attention from a national figure doesn’t just create headlines , it reassures clients and funders alike.

Why GOSHH’s history still matters today

GOSHH didn’t pop up overnight. The organisation’s origins in the Gay Switchboard and the Limerick AIDS Alliance during the 1980s pandemic give it institutional memory and credibility. CEO Verena Tarpey points out that while treatments and public attitudes have changed, the mission remains the same: equal access to healthcare. That continuity helps people trust the service when they’re anxious or unsure.

Outreach and practical services that reach rural Ireland

The charity isn’t just city-centred. GOSHH runs rural clinics in Kilrush, Ballyvaughan and Kilkee, and last year helped roughly 2,500 people with sexual health tests, HIV prevention and LGBT+ supports. For anyone living outside the city, that kind of local access can be the difference between getting care and going without. If you’re heading to Pride, it’s worth noting where nearby services are , and to keep conversations about sexual health normal and practical.

Trans community voices and why visibility counts

For Trans Limerick Community members, GOSHH has been pivotal. Eleanor Valentine described a tight-knit group of around 150 people who’ve grown with GOSHH’s help and benefit from free counselling referrals. Seeing the President visit felt like an official handshake to say, “You belong here.” Representation like this doesn’t solve every problem, but it matters to morale and to reducing isolation.

Pride parade, celebration and continued activism

Limerick’s Pride Parade on Saturday will be both joyful and pointed , a celebration of identity and a reminder that the fight for equality continues. The presidential visit underlines that Pride is more than flags and parties; it’s about health, support and ordinary conversations that remove shame. If you’re joining the parade, look out for local outreach stalls and pick up information about services you or friends might need.

It’s a small moment with a clear message: support, visibility and practical services make Pride more than a single day.

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