Féile representative tells council ‘no complaints' received over pro-IRA chants at festival

Belfast Telegraph

4 days ago

A Belfast Féile representative has told Belfast City Council it has received no complaints about 'pro-IRA chants' at the annual festival following a series of controversial concerts at Falls Park.
TUV representative Ron McDowell quizzed the Féile an Phobail representative about what is being done to reduce expressions of support for terror during a Belfast City Licensing Committee meeting which was told there has been a reduction in the number of noise complaints.
The councillor welcomed what he described as 'moves in the right direction' but said questions remain when it comes to 'inclusivity, and making everybody feel welcome' at the event.
"Has there been any discussion or any movement towards the reduction of pro-IRA chants, which would make the event more hospitable to people from right across the city?' he asked.
The Féile representative replied: 'Again, we engage very widely with elected reps right across the city, as well as with community organisations, and others concerned.
"We had no complaints over the last couple of years directed to us, around anything that was taking place at the festival.
Mr McDowell has welcomed enhanced cooperation with police as councillors approved a request to permit the planned entertainment to run beyond 11pm on up to six nights during the event which will run from Friday August 1 to Sunday August 10.
It is expected the entertainment will run to 1am on two of the nights – Saturday August 2 and Friday August 8.
During the committee meeting at City Hall, elected representatives were told by council officials that 76 noise complaints were received over the period of last year's festival which was a reduction from the 120 received in 2023.
The Féile representative said: 'We have had a meeting with the PSNI, and furnished them with all the details of all the evenings concerned, as well as the full event plans, which also went to City Council.
"We work very closely with various council teams, including Licensing and Parks, Building Control and Community Safety Teams, and operate hand in hand with the council in the festival period, along with the PSNI.'
They added: 'We have a very substantial operation that kicks in from mid July, where we have a number of residential consultation events, including the resident's letter, which goes far and wide, particularly into the houses which are quite close to the event space.
"All our committees, which work on a year-round basis to help programme the festival, all involve local people.
"We are very well connected to the festival and the local community.
'There was a significant reduction in complaints received last year, and that probably was the result of having a noise consultant on site during those evenings when music was played in the Falls Park.'
The representative confirmed the noise consultant would be on-site again this year as they said 'we are happy to take on board any advice or guidance towards this year's events' in relation to pro-IRA chants at previous events.
'Or anything the council would ask us to follow up on,' they said.
'But we have received no complaints, the PSNI are present at all these events, and they didn't record anything either or come to us with any issues.
"Nor did any of the other statutory agencies involved.'
Up the 'RA chanting at Feile Wolfe Tones finale
Over three years ago, the DUP and Sinn Fein clashed at City Hall over The Wolfe Tones concerts in Falls Park.
Belfast City Council agreed to subject events in public parks to an annual review.
In March 2022, then DUP councillor Brian Kingston, who is now an MLA, condemned: 'the use of a council park where there is a concert, and from the stage there is singing and the leading of young people to the chanting of support for paramilitary organisations.'
He said: 'I am referring to the Wolfe Tones concert in Falls Park, in our park.
"There is nothing else on the same scale as this.
"It remains a stain on the Féile, and a stain on this council.'
The Wolfe Tones played a 'farewell to west Belfast' gig last summer as part of the Feile festival.
In previous years, major funders of the festival have expressed concern after pro-IRA chanting during Wolfe Tones sets after video footage emerged showing many fans singing 'Ooh, ah, up the 'RA'.