Fáilte Ireland has announced that it would be making over €1.6m in funding available to 16 national festivals and events, as part of the first phase of its 2017 National Festivals and Events Programme.
A further phase of national festivals funding will be announced by the tourism body in early 2017, dealing largely with festivals taking place in the latter part of the year. Each of the events funded in the first phase have demonstrated significant international appeal and will take place during 2017.
The biggest single amount allocated for the first half of 2017 is again the St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin, which will receive €1m. Other large recipients include Tradfest Dublin (€60k), West Cork Music & Literary Festival (€60k), and Rory Gallagher Festival (€40k).
Caeman Wall, Head of Research and Evaluation with Fáilte Ireland, emphasised the importance of festivals for Ireland and the tourism sector: “Festivals play an important role in guaranteeing that we have a full menu of things for tourists to see and do and provide the backbone to the tourism calendar.”
