WHAT WE SAY.
Pride Month hits close to home for us. As a queer-owned business, it’s personal. I still remember a time when it wasn’t so easy to be open and proud about your sexuality — when being open meant taking a risk. Ireland has come a long way. We’re lucky to live in a more open and inclusive country than we did twenty years ago. But discrimination still exists. As long as coming out is still a “process,” it means there’s still something to be admitted, something to be accepted — and that tells us the work isn’t done yet.
That’s why we make it a point to mark Pride in a way that feels meaningful. Every year, we choose an LGBTQ+ charity to support. This year we were proud to fundraise for Belong To, the national organisation supporting LGBTQ+ young people in Ireland. Since 2003, they’ve been creating safe, inclusive spaces for queer youth — through direct support, education, and advocacy — helping the next generation to feel seen, heard and supported. Their work matters, and we were delighted to back it.
On Friday 20th June, we hosted a Latte Art Throwdown in our Aston Quay shop — a night of coffee, colour and community. It was a brilliant evening: relaxed, fun and full of good energy.
Huge thanks to the amazing Coco Ri, who brought the sparkle and held court as MC. We’re also incredibly grateful to PI for providing the pizza, Whiplash for the beers, and our judges for volunteering their time and expertise.
To everyone who competed, spectated, donated, or just showed up to support — thank you. Thanks as well to our brilliant team and the judges who gave their time voluntarily and kept things running smoothly.
And a special shoutout to our sponsors for helping us make a bigger impact:
👏 Bailies Coffee Roasters
👏 Down2Earth Materials
👏 Elavon
We were able to raise funds in a few different ways:
It was a great night, but more importantly, it was a reminder of the power of community — and of what we can do together when we show up for each other.
Thanks for being part of it 🤍🏳️🌈
Stephen + the Copper + Straw Team
