Thousands of men, women and children are set to march through Dublin this afternoon on the 30th anniversary of the Dublin Gay Pride parade.
Among the many employer groups that will be taking part will be the Irish Prison Service for the first time.
The Tanaiste, Eamon Gilmore has extended his best wishes to the organisers of the festival and to all those taking part.
Mr Gilmore has again pledged Labour's support to the campaign for equal marriage rights for same sex couples and says he looks forward to receiving the report from the Constitutional Convention and workign towards a referendum on gay marriage.
Twenty-thousand people took to the streets last year, and organisers say they expect the turnout today to be much the same.
Ciaran O'HUltachain, vice-chairperson of The National Lesbian and Gay Federation, says the day is the second biggest festival only to St Patrick's Day:
