Mallow-based author Aisling De Barra is set to take part in Wexford Pride inside 2026, bringing her debut children’s book Loved Just the Same to one of the southeast’s leading LGBTQ+ celebrations.
The event takes place on Saturday, 30 May 2026, at the Wexford Arts Centre and is now in its sixth year. It remains Wexford’s only Pride festival, featuring a full day of live performances, community stalls, discussions, and family-friendly activities.
Aisling will host a stall during the festival and will also appear on stage to discuss her book and the growing importance of inclusive storytelling for young readers.
Loved Just the Same is a rhyming picture book aimed at children aged between three and seven. The story explores the idea that families come in many forms, including single-parent households, blended families, same-sex parents, grandparents raising children, and wider caregiving structures.
At the heart of the book is a simple but powerful message, while every family may look different, they are all connected through love, care, and belonging.
Inspired by Aisling’s own family experiences, the book was created to help children feel represented in the stories they read while also encouraging empathy, understanding, and acceptance from an early age.
Aisling’s appearance at Wexford Pride Inside 2026 marks another milestone for the Cork-based writer, whose work has already gained attention through LGBTQ+ media coverage and podcast interviews, including appearances linked to Onic’s Pride Vibes.
Her participation highlights the growing role children’s literature can play in wider conversations around inclusion, identity, and acceptance, themes that remain central to Pride celebrations across Ireland.
For Aisling, the mission behind Loved Just the Same remains clear, ensuring every child can see their family reflected in the stories they read and reminding young readers that they are always “loved just the same.”