Up to 40,000 people are expected to take part in the Dublin Pride parade tomorrow afternoon.

Today marks 40 years to the day since a group of eight people protested at the Department of Justice and the British embassy in Dublin criticising anti-gay laws in Ireland.

This was considered by many to the first public even by the gay rights movement here.

The Parade route for tomorrow

A number of events will take place throughout the weekend - including a special performance by Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst.

The Austrian singer (25) will give her first live performance in Ireland at The George tonight.

And on the eve of the Parade, Rory O'Neill aka 'Panti Bliss' has been speaking about what Gay Pride means to him.

Ciaran McKinney is a member of the board of directors of Dublin Pride, and Jamie Kenny is a student who has worked with LGBT youth group 'Belong To'.

They told Newstalk Breakfast earlier that Ireland has come a long way in the last two decades.