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

12th February, 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 €2million 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:

 

“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.”

 

ENDS

 

Note for editors

 

Dublin Theatre Festival Established in 1957, Dublin Theatre Festival is the oldest English speaking theatre festival in the world. Showcasing new and existing Irish and International theatre productions in a range of venues along with a programme of discussions and family events.The Dublin Theatre Festival offers visitors the opportunity to engage with the real, contemporary narrative of the city while steeping themselves in Irish history with visits to renowned venues such as the Abbey, Gate and Gaiety Theatres.
Laya City Spectacular Laya City Spectacular brings the best street performers in the world to Ireland to provide free entertainment for all the family.    The festival also runs free family orientated workshops, activities, installations and provides roving entertainment in and throughout all the festival sites.  The festivals USP’s are it brings high end circus acts and international performers to Ireland and it’s the only event of its kind in Europe.
Dublin Fringe Festival A multi-disciplinary festival for new and innovative approaches to the arts. An incubator for excellence and innovation in the arts the programme offers more than 60 theatre, dance, music, circus and spectacle-based events premiering annually.The festival boasts of being Ireland’s largest curated multi-disciplinary festival for new and innovative approaches to the arts. The festival has over 60 theatre, dance, music, circus and spectacle-based events premiering annually and the event inspires audience engagement and dialogue
Waterford Spraoi An international street arts festival which animates the streets, squares and quays of Waterford City with a quality programme of street arts and family oriented activities.
Guinness Cork Jazz Festival A programme of jazz and jazz-related music along with workshops, open-mic sessions, jazz camps and choirs in a broad range of venues. Almost 1,000 musicians participate in 400 plus music sessions in Cork and Kinsale. The bulk of the events are free of charge. The festival has been running since 1978 and has an established international reputation.
Cork Film Festival Cork Film Festival presents the best of local, Irish and International cinema. The programme includes a diverse range of screenings, live events and training elements.2015 is the 60th Anniversary of the festival. It will span 10 days with over 185 different events across the dates. These include feature films, documentaries, short film, live music events, talent development and industry events together with a focused family programme.
Earagail Arts Festival Earagail programmes the festival across Donegal county. The programme features traditional Irish and folk music; outdoor spectacle (landscape theatre, artistic walks and cycle tours); visual arts trail; literary and spoken word (a bi-lingual programme of poetry and prose events).  A number of the programme elements animate the landscape by taking place in parks, castles, beaches and mountains as well as traditional venues such as galleries and cultural centres.
Galway Film Fleadh A film festival with a two-fold purpose. The film festival showcases Irish and International cinema with screenings, talks and discussions.  In tandem with the festival is the Galway Film Fair, a three day marketplace for the film industry and its professionals encompassing meetings and seminars attracting both Irish and International industry to Galway. The film fair acts as an accessible industry event offering a transatlantic bridge between the US and European film industry.
Rose of Tralee The mission statement for the festival is ‘Connecting the Global Irish Community’.
Events are run in over 70 Rose Centres at home and abroad.  In existence for over 50 years the festival has something for all ages – five days of street entertainment, parades, firework’s, marching bands, amusements, circus and events in the Festival Dome.
The festival culminates with the crowning of the Rose of Tralee in the festival Dome which is televised live over two nights.
Galway Oyster Festival Established in 1954 this long running festival offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy the quality offering of Galway Native Oysters. The core of the programme is the World Oyster Opening Championships which sees competitors compete from 16 countries including USA, Japan, Singapore, The Nordics, the UK and Europe.The festival also offers daytime, evening and family events as well as fringe events throughout the city.
Yeats 2015 International Festival Year-long celebration of the life and works of WB Yeats, 2015 marks the 150 anniversary of the poet’s birth.  Celebrations will be rooted in the west of Ireland, with some performances planned for Dublin. The programme will see a diverse series of events celebrating the range and depth of Yeats work.  Partners will span literary, cultural, historical and academic worlds.