ORGANISERS OF THIS afternoon’s ‘March for Marriage’ event in Dublin city centre say they’re hoping for the largest attendance yet in the event’s six-year history.

Numbers turning out for the annual rally have increased steadily since the first such event was held in 2008. Around 5,000 people attended last year’s march.

Max Krzyzanowski of campaign group LGBT Noise said that he expected a boost in numbers in the wake of the Government’s announcement of a referendum next year, and the recent Pantigate controversy.

The vote on legalising same-sex marriage is to be held in the first half of 2015, with initial polls indicating the change will be passed comfortably.

Krzyzanowski said that a sustained campaign of action would be staged in the months leading up to next year’s vote.

“We will be 100 per cent vigorously advocating that not only is there such a strong case for LGBT people to have their voices heard, it’s actually also a step we can take to move the country forward.

It raises everybody’s boat when minorities have their rights vindicated.

This afternoon’s event gets under way at 3pm at City Hall on Dame Street, followed by a march to the Department of Justice at Stephen’s Green.

Journalist Fintan O’Toole and broadcaster Dil Wickremasinghe will be amongst the speakers to address a rally outside the Department.

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