Donohoe announces €320,000 in second phase of funding for major festivals and events in 2015

Festivals to boost tourism activity and drive visitor growth all around the country in second half of the year

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, has today (Thursday) announced that further funding of €320,000 has been approved by Fáilte Ireland under its National Festivals and Events Programme for 11 key national festivals and events to take place later this year. This follows an announcement of almost €2 million last November for larger events (such as the St Patrick’s Festival) and those festivals due to take part in the first six months of 2015.

Minister Donohoe explained the significance of today’s funding saying: ‘Festivals and events encourage greater visitor traffic and enhance the visitor’s experience wherever they occur. Crucially, some of the events funded today will take place beyond the high season, during Autumn, and are key motivators for tourism later in the year’.

“I am confident that today’s targeted festival funding – following the first phase of funding late last year – will have a significant impact all around the country. To complement this, another round of funding for smaller and regional festivals will be announced in the coming weeks.”

The approved festivals being funded by Fáilte Ireland under the second phase of its National Programme for Festivals and Events includes:

· Dublin Theatre Festival – €40,000

· Laya City Spectacular – €25,000

· Dublin Fringe Festival – €20,000

· Waterford Spraoi – €15,000

· Guinness Cork Jazz Festival – €30,000

· Cork Film Festival – €20,000

· Earagail Arts Festival – €40,000

· Galway Film Fleadh – €20,000

· Rose of Tralee – €30,000

· Galway Oyster Festival – €30,000

· Yeats 2015 International Festival – €50,000

As well as attracting visitors, festivals are important in terms of generating employment and community engagement. Shaun Quinn, CEO of Fáilte Ireland explained why festivals are so important for Ireland and the tourism sector by emphasizing:

“Ultimately, Ireland succeeds as a tourism destination due to the very positive experiences which visitors enjoy. Part of this is due to our own native friendliness and the beauty of our countryside but tourism performance is also dependent on the variety of things to see, do and embrace which every traveller looks for. For Ireland, festivals are an important part of the mix which makes us an enjoyable place to visit and these events which we are announcing today will enhance the tourism calendar and add to our attractiveness and our ability to grow overseas visitors and revenue.”