Old Fair Day in funding crisis

THERE is a serious danger the Old Fair Day Festival in Tubbercurry will not go ahead next year unless they secure more funding.

That’s according to Councillor Dara Mulvey, who along with Councillors Margaret Gormley and Paul Taylor, tabled motions calling on the Council to fund the festival to the tune of ¤5,000¤15,000 next year.

Councillors and two Dáil Deputies attended a recent meeting of the Old Fair Day committee at which they were urged to save the future of the Festival.

Cllr Gormley said it had been outlined that the Old Fair Day might not go ahead next year.

“It was ranked 14 in the Top 15 Festivals worldwide. Not alone is it a help to Tubbercurry but to South Sligo and Sligo - visitors come from all over the world,” she said.

Cllr Gormley said the best way the Council could recognise the tourism potential of the Festival would be to put funding in place on an annual basis so the Committee could plan for the following year.

“We’re looking for ¤15,000 to be made available, not ¤500 that they got this year, a substantial amount,” she told the Executive.

They were supported by Councillor Jerry Lundy, who said the idea of the Old Fair Day not going ahead next year could not be contemplated.

Councillor Hubert Keaney disagreed however, saying the appropriate forum for them to apply for funding was to the Council’s annual Community Grant Scheme.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Seamus Kilgannon agreed that a funding figure could not be agreed in the Chamber.

Chief Executive Ciarán Hayes agreed that the Old Fair Day did need “additional support” but said the manner of the motion was “wrong.”

“If you approve it, you are opening the door for every other event to seek funding this way,” he said.

Cllr Keaney said the Council should have “greater analysis of what these festivals contribute” and said that a recent event in North Sligo resulted in 350 bed nights in the County over five days and donated ¤7,000 to a charity after.

Director of Services Dorothy Clarke said the Old Fair Day missed out on funding from the Arts Scheme because it submitted a late application.

Ciarán Hayes urged the Festival Committee to “keep an eye out for funding dates.” Cllr Keaney also urged members to remind local event committees of funding application deadlines.