Thousands of people descended on Dublin at the weekend for the annual Gay Pride parade through the city center.
It was estimated that around 25,000 participants marched from Parnell Square to the Civic Offices on Wood Quayin the second largest march in the country after Dublin's St Patrick's Day parade.
Participants in the parade included groups such as the LGBT Lawyers' Association, Changing Attitudes, which is working for recognition of gays in the Church of Ireland, as well as political parties and trade unions such as SIPTU, UNITED and the country's three teaching unions.
Dublin Gay Pride put on more than 50 events over a ten-day period, which included music performances,walking tours, sports events and even a dog show. The theme of this year's events, was "It's a Human Thing."
Openly gay presidential hopeful, Senator David Norris, who spoke at the open-air, alcohol-free after party, said: "Pride is something that we all earn. The Irish gay community has earned the right to be proud."
