With 2024 only just begun the year is already looking good for local festivals
A New Year is upon us and with it the announcement of a range of different grant schemes that local groups and organisations can avail of, ranging from climate projects and festivals to archaeological projects and a variety of community initiatives.
Just announced is Cork County Council’s 2024 Community Fund, now in its tenth year of operation, with an overall fund of €1.8million for 2024.
The scheme provides financial assistance to a range of different community, sporting and voluntary organisations under three distinctive fund types: The Capital Fund, Community Contract, and Amenity Fund and is administered locally by Cork County Council’s eight Municipal Districts.
These funds support a range of projects and initiatives, including supporting the work of Tidy Towns groups and community associations, infrastructural works, and sports and leisure facilities.
Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr. Frank O’Flynn welcomed the return of the scheme for 2024 saying, ‘Now in its tenth year, the Community Fund Scheme has been very well received by community groups around Cork since being first introduced. Communities have shown great pride in their local areas with some excellent projects undertaken through this scheme.
‘I encourage community groups to make an application for this year’s scheme to make a real difference to your local area.’
Chief Executive of Cork County Council Valerie O’Sullivan added: ‘The Community Fund Scheme has always been a welcome boost for our towns and villages. I’m pleased to announce that we have made €1.8m in support available again this year which exemplifies the Council’s commitment to supporting communities in their efforts to continually enhance and improve the quality of life in their locality.’
Applications will close at 4:00pm on Tuesday the 13th of February 2024 and for more information visit https:// www.corkcoco.ie/en/resident/municipal-districts/municipal-district-community-fund-schemes-2024.
LOCAL FESTIVAL FUND
Another Cork County Council scheme recently announced is the Local Festival Fund 2024, which is a competitive grant scheme supporting the development of festivals that drive domestic tourism and help to improve the visitor experience.
A total of €85,000 is available through the Local Festival Fund for 2024 and applicants can apply for funding up to a maximum of €6,000 per festival. Funding is provided by Fáilte Ireland, at 50%, with Cork County Council providing the additional 50% match funding.
Welcoming the announcement of the scheme for 2024, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn said: ‘Cork County Local Festival Fund 2024 will support some of Cork’s most exciting and unique festivals in 2024.
‘Festivals have huge positive effects on our towns and villages. Not only do they promote cultural heritage and foster community pride, they also are a huge boost to the economy. As well as bringing local communities together, local festivals have the potential to attract thousands of visitors to Cork County to experience our rich culture, deep rooted traditions and vibrant community spirit.’
Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Valerie O’Sullivan added: ‘This year, Cork County Council has increased its funding in support of local festivals and events, with a renewed emphasis on sustainability.
‘Demonstrating our ongoing commitment to Climate Change, part of the total fund of €85,000 will be allocated to successful Local Festival Fund applicants that demonstrate festival greening measures using sustainable best practices.
‘Cork County hosts an array of distinctive and exciting festivals of all sizes and we are delighted to support the groups and communities that work tirelessly to bring these events to life for everyone to enjoy.’
Ciara Sugrue, Head of Festivals at Fáilte Ireland, said: “Festivals and events play a key role in delivering brilliant visitor experiences, providing a unique reason for visitors to choose a destination and increasing footfall for local businesses, supporting jobs and revenue generation. Managed by Cork County Council, the Local Festival Fund will support festivals that drive domestic demand and enhance the visitor experience across Cork County.
‘I am delighted to see that Cork County Council has, once again this year, placed an increased emphasis on sustainable festivals. This year, funding is available, additional to the Local Festival Funding, for festivals who demonstrate the capability of implementing festival ‘greening’ measures to consciously reduce their impact on the environment.”
Further information on the Local Festival Fund, including application criteria is available on www.corkcoco.ie. Online applications close on Friday the 26th of January at 5.00pm. For further details contact LocalFestivalFund@CorkCoCo.ie.
YOUGHAL MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL
A festival that has seen tremendous success is the annual Youghal Medieval Festival, which first began in 2007.
A recent report undertaken by Real Insights has revealed that the festival provides an economic spin-off to the value of €863,000 to the town of Youghal.
Aiming to celebrate Youghal’s unique built heritage, the event is centred around bringing the town’s heritage and identity to life by means of a wholesome, authentic fun family day out.
HISTORIC WEATHER IN 2023
Hopefully 2024 will see many excellent festivals and hopefully some fine weather as well. Looking back at 2023, weather-wise, it was a year of records. 2023 was the warmest year on record yet in Ireland, with the average temperature for the year having reached 11°C for the first time since records began, 125 years ago.
Keith Lambkin, Head of Climate Services at Met Éireann said: “Ireland has seen a remarkable year with rainfall and warming at unprecedented levels at times. These record-breaking extremes have knock-on consequences to much of society. Past weather events are no longer a reliable indicator of future weather events, but knowing this allows us to better plan and adapt to our changing climate.”
2023 saw the warmest June on record and, on the other hand, saw the wettest March and the wettest July on record. The lowest temperature of the year was -7.2°C in Kildare on 17 January 2023 and the highest temperature of the year was also recorded in Kildare at 29.1°C on Friday 8th September 2023.
We will see what the year brings and for anyone interested in learning more about Ireland’s weather, past, present and future, visit the Met Éireann website: https://www.met.ie/about-us/ latest-news.