Latest news with #FáilteIreland
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Festivals running the risk of closing as call goes out for more funding from Fáilte Ireland
And, Cllr Thomas Walsh claimed that Fáilte Ireland were 'asleep at the wheel' as it has only given Sligo County Council a 'paltry €26,000' to run local festivals in the past five years. Cllr Walsh, who is involved with the Ballygawley Music Festival and Sligo Live, said festivals were hanging by a thread. He was speaking amid fears for the independent festival scene, after Sea Sessions in Bundoran announced it isn't going ahead this year, while a liquidator was appointed to the company behind the Wild Roots Festival in Sligo last year and is no more. Meanwhile, Barry O'Neill organiser of the hugely popular Rory Gallagher Festival in Ballyshanon has expressed fears for its future. Cllr Walsh said: 'There was a small bit of support for events over Covid but then inflation kicked in post Covid, and nothing was put in place for live festival events. 'So, costs have skyrocketed, and it is something I have been highlighting for years and the whole events thing is hanging on by a thread. 'This is because of huge increased costs, and I know from Ballygawley Music Festival in July and Sligo Summer Festival who were hoping to run a second weekend on the August Bank Holiday Weekend, but it was not possible because it would cost them an extra €70,000 to run a second weekend. 'Sligo Live and Cairde and our own festival are very successful, but our costs in Ballygawley are up on €120,000 which includes insurance, operational costs, site set up costs, energy costs and the cost of the acts have gone up because of the knock- on effects of the increase in the price of fuel for travel and their insurance has gone up too. 'All of that is passed on to the festivals and the organisers are forced to pass that on to the price of the ticket which is regrettable but necessary,' he said. Cllr Walsh added that nine smaller festivals collapsed in 2024, and the UK has the same problem where 60 folded last year. ADVERTISEMENT He added that another factor impacting was the huge crowds attending headline acts in Croke Park, the Aviva or other major venues. 'These massive artists sell out venues, but they are portraying a false economy because people are saving their money for the big festivals and not supporting the smaller ones.' Cllr Walsh was critical of Fáilte Ireland. 'Its budget from the State last year was €140m and all they give Sligo County Council for events in the county is a mere €26,000. That would not pay for a marquee, insurance etc 'Ballygawley gets €4,000 from Fáilte Ireland for an event that costs €120,000, so it would not cover even the toilet facilities.' 'But they do good work in terms of capital spending and Queen Maeve Square would not be there only for Failte Ireland and Strandhill Surf Centre of Excellence, so they are doing well on the capital side. 'But they are not supporting live is a three night festival and 5,000 people were there last year. Cllr Walsh added that Irish Public Bodies IPB who supply insurance and public liability for all Council offices and State facilities, could open it up to live events and it would take the cost away from the operator. 'I believe the State should take over the insurance via IPB which is their own insurance policy.' 'Fáilte Ireland should be made increase the funding to local authorities and I am talking about events of 500 and over and less than 5,000. '€26,000 is a kick in the teeth for Sligo festivals and €100,000 per local authority would not be out of the way and that is the reality of it. 'It would just get their heads above water and festivals are in survival mode all over the country. Cllr Walsh added that culture and arts were the backbone of our economy. 'There is a huge knock- on benefit for Sligo from all these festivals so they should be supported. 'Fáilte Ireland is the vehicle for tourism, and they talk about supporting visitor attractions and festivals but really they are not supporting festivals. 'Unless there is an injection of cash into these festivals more of them are going to collapse.'
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Irish Times
Ireland is cool for tourists
Sir, – With growing reports of tourists increasingly favouring cooler destinations in response to rising global temperatures, Ireland finds itself uniquely positioned to capitalise on this emerging trend. Rather than lament our famously mild and often unpredictable weather, we should reframe it as one of our greatest natural assets. In a warming world, cool is not just a climate – it's a commodity. What better way for Fáilte Ireland to embrace this than with the bold, memorable slogan: 'Ireland is Cool' – a message that is both literal and irresistibly marketable. As global travellers seek respite from heatwaves and scorched landscapes, Ireland offers lush greenery, refreshing breezes, and a climate that invites exploration without exhaustion. READ MORE In an era of climate consciousness, our weather is no longer a drawback - it's a destination. – Yours, etc, GEOFF SCARGILL, Bray, Co Wicklow.
Irish Examiner
11-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Dublin dominates as top winter break location as seasonal spending rises substantially
More than half of all Irish city trips in the winter months were to Dublin, new figures from Fáilte Ireland show, with the capital accounting for 52% of city breaks between November and February. Publishing its Consumer Winter Report 2025 this week, Fáilte Ireland found that increased popularity of Dublin saw marginally less demand for breaks across some other Irish cities. Galway comprised 20% of winter trips, down from 23% in the same time last year, while Kilkenny made up 9% of winter breaks, down from 11%. Waterford remained unchanged, with 12% of city breaks taking place in the south-east city. Meanwhile, 17% of the city trips last winter were to Cork, up from 15% in the same season last year, with Limerick comprising 10%, up marginally compared to the same period 12 months ago. While there has been little change in the share of travel, the number of domestic trips across the country has risen significantly in the past three years, Fáilte Ireland found, helped by St Brigid's Day which became a bank holiday in 2023. The tourism agency also found that year-on-year card spending throughout the winter months and into March saw substantial increases, outpacing inflation during the same period. The spending figures indicate that consumers have enjoyed increased disposable income, likely contributing positively to Ireland's tourism sector throughout the winter months. Latest CSO data indicates that holiday spend for 2024 is up 12% annually, Fáilte Ireland said, with it likely that this continued into early 2025, as indicated by the Central Bank of Ireland. However, the agency said it is important to note that the increase in spending is not necessarily evenly distributed, with affordability pressures such as housing costs and inflation limiting the spending of younger and lower-income groups. While the proportion of people taking domestic breaks has remained relatively unchanged, the number of trips have increased, with this suggesting an increase in the frequency of taking trips amongst those already taking breaks. With spending up and household financial situation improving, Fáilte Ireland said it augers well for the sector this summer. However, it said sentiment is still somewhat tentative, with value for money remaining a key consideration for consumers. "The cost-of-living situation demands for more financially palatable holiday experiences in Ireland," Fáilte Ireland said. "Identifying what will make holidays less of a financial burden for key segments is key to ensuring travel plans are kept."
Business Post
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Post
Dublin City Council approve Lisbon-style food hall in vacant St Andrew's Church
Dublin City Council (DCC) has approved Fáilte Ireland plans for a Lisbon-style food hall and cultural space in St Andrew's Church on Suffolk St in ...
Irish Independent
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Dublin City Council approves food hall use for vacant St Andrew's Church
City officials granted planning permission after concluding the food hall would comply with the zoning objective of the site and would not detract from the area's civic character. Fáilte Ireland will not be operating the food hall itself, but will instead press ahead with a plan to seek an experienced operator to lease the space out for that use. The statute of Molly Malone stands outside the well-known church in an area of Dublin city centre that has a high footfall of tourists. A recent inspection of the statue found that it was unstable with multiple broken fittings. Experts found that two pins holding the statue in place were destroyed. In a letter to Dublin City Council, Laura McCarthy from Fáilte Ireland had said: 'The proposed change of use for the premises has the potential to create a major centrally-based asset for the city, with the potential to inject cultural and economic value, which would benefit local residents, employees and all visitors, both domestic and foreign.' Ms McCarthy, manager of corporate services at Fáilte Ireland, pointed out that food tourism generates around €2bn for the Irish economy each year. 'In order to generate and sustain further economic opportunity and economic development, we need to create iconic food and drink experiences – the proposed change of use and redevelopment of St Andrew's would be the embodiment of that vision,' she said. 'It is envisaged that the proposed food hall will showcase the best of local and Irish produce within a very high-quality setting, which will not only reinvigorate but repurpose part of our capital city's historic building inventory.' Planning documents said the new food hall has the potential to generate 30 to 40 full and part-time jobs. The Swords-based Wright Group secured planning for a food hall at St Andrew's Church in 2019 through its Mink Fusion subsidiary but with the Covid-19 pandemic intervening, the firm did not proceed with the five-year planning permission. In a separate planning report lodged with the application by David Mulcahy Planning Consultants, it stated that the proposed new use 'will bring life back to this vacant building which is one of the most prominent buildings in the city'. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Mulcahy stated that 'the concept of a food/dining hall, which is essentially a permanent indoor market with associated dining facilities, is well established in most European cities and they are very popular for tourists, city residents and local employees'. He said that the emphasis will be on showcasing local produce, fresh where possible.
