Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring TD has announced that funding of just over €1.8m has been
allocated to 23 key national festivals and events by Fáilte Ireland, under its 2016 National Festivals and Events Programme. This is the first phase of national funding to be announced with a second phase to come in February. Each of these events has significant international appeal and will take place during 2016.
Minister Ring explained the significance of such funding:
“Festivals and events are the essence of tourism and are very often what drives visitors to choose to come to Ireland. To guarantee that we will have a rich variety of spectacle and experiences throughout the country, and particularly to generate activity off-season, I am pleased to announce that almost €2million will be used to ensure there is plenty for visitors to enjoy in Ireland in 2016.
“This funding will play a significant part in growing tourism over the next 12 months and, additionally, I look forward to being in a position to announce another round of funding for smaller and regional festivals in the near future.”
The approved festivals being funded by Fáilte Ireland under its National Programme for Festivals and Events includes:
· St Patrick's Festival
€1m
· Dublin Horse Show
€125,000
· Wexford Festival Opera
€110,000
· Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
€100,000
· Tradfest
€50,000
· Cork International Choral Festival
€50,000
· West Cork Chamber Music & Literary Festival
€50,000
· Sea Sessions
€40,000
· Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival
€40,000
· Earagail Arts Festival
€35,000
· Ireland BikeFest
€30,000
· Bloomsday
€25,000
· City Spectacular
€25,000
· Rock n Roll, Dublin Half Marathon
€20,000
· Galway Film Fleadh
€20,000
· Listowel Writers Week
€20,000
· Waterford Spaoi
€15,000
· Dublin International Film Festival
€10,000
· Tattersalls International Horse Trials & Country Fair
€10,000
· Donegal Rally
€10,000
· Challenge Galway
€10,000
· Cúirt International Festival of Literature
€10,000
· European & World DTL C'Ship
€5,000
As well as attracting visitors, festivals are important in terms of generating employment and community engagement. The objective of Fáilte Ireland’s 2016 National Festivals Programme is to drive growth from key overseas markets through compelling experiences that are attractive to our target audiences and to generate additional overseas visitors across the country and across the calendar year.
Shaun Quinn, CEO of Fáilte Ireland, stressed the importance of festivals for Ireland and the tourism sector:
“While recent tourism performance from overseas markets has been encouraging, we are determined to build on this momentum to drive and sustain economic growth. Ensuring that Ireland is offering compelling reasons for overseas visitors to choose Ireland, our festivals offering plays an important role in achieving this and guarantees that we have a full menu of things to see and do for tourists.
“The Festivals we are supporting today will provide the backbone to this year’s tourism event calendar and add to our ability to grow overseas visitors and revenue.”
