More funding needed to keep summer festivals running, senator says
Senator Manus Boyle said local summer festivals across the country are struggling to run events due to increased costs.
Advertisement
'Many of our regional and rural festivals are really struggling and fearing for their future," he said.
"We've seen the increased cost of running a festival, with the high cost of insurance, operational costs, site set up costs, and energy costs, so we need to see increased funding to support these community groups."
Senator Boyle, from Donegal, said community run festivals, regattas, and local community events across the island are a highlight of the summer for hundreds of thousands of people.
'They are an annual tradition and often the pride of a locality hosting their main event. Many people who have moved from their homeplace to other areas of Ireland or abroad plan to come home to coincide when their local festival is on.
Advertisement
"It is an opportunity for friendships and families to be reunited and provides so many happy occasions during the Irish summer.
'In Donegal, the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival has been an integral part of the community for over two decades and now attracts visitors from all over the world each year to Ballyshannon.
'Fáilte Ireland research shows that the festival generates €4 million to the local economy and a total of €5 million nationally - taking into account the time spent by visitors elsewhere in the country including travel along the Wild Atlantic Way.
'As well as celebrating and promoting the music of this wonderful musician, and supporting Irish and international musical artists, the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival is vital for the survival of the local economy in South Donegal."
Advertisement
Boyle said he has asked Minister for Culture, Patrick O'Donovan, to urgently address the need for increased financial support for local festivals across Ireland..
'Our community festivals bring people together, strengthening relationships and creating a sense of belonging. They provide a platform for residents to connect, interact, and build stronger community ties.
'Festivals can be a significant draw for tourists, bringing new visitors to the town who might not otherwise consider visiting.
"Tourism revenue generated by festivals can be a major boost for the local economy and can also raise awareness of the town as a tourist destination, potentially attracting future visitors.
'We need our festivals to survive and continue, not just as a celebration of our musical heritage and the arts, but to contribute as a cornerstone of the local economy in small towns throughout the country."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Horse-loving neighbours save Brinsley Animal Rescue's land
A group of horse-loving neighbours have saved a field from being developed so it can continue to be used by rescued Animal Rescue in Nottinghamshire had been renting the land but was told at short notice that it was due to be sold at whose houses overlook the field - and love watching rescue horses Rosie and Dillwin - then got together and pledged an interest-free loan totalling £29, meant the charity could make a winning bid of £67,000 for the land, so its rescue animals can continue using the field. 'Bizarre' meeting Alison Kirk came up with the idea of lending the money, and wrote a letter which she posted through her neighbours' then had a meeting in the horses' field, to the south of Main Street, with Rosie and Dillwin also present."They were loitering in the field, we were standing the other side of the stables, so they didn't attend the meeting as such," said Ms Kirk."It was really bizarre because we all stood there in a circle in the open air, strangers, because we'd never even met some of them before."The heart-warming thing was that people were genuinely wanting to help and encourage and support." Ms Kirk moved to her home two years ago and loves watching the horses while she is working from home."I'm supposed to get work done but I often watch them out the window," she said."They're wonderful horses. The older one is called Rosie. She's quite feisty but she's quite old, I think. She's a lovely character."Dillwin was a retired racehorse and I think he didn't win a lot of races, so he couldn't make a lot of money for people, so he was rescued before the inevitable happened. He's lovely, he's very gentle." The charity also had to use some of its own reserves to buy the field, as it cost about £75,000 including legal fees and other has therefore launched a fundraising campaign so it can build up its reserves again, and also pay back the Beresford, who co-founded the charity with his partner Beth Hewis, said buying the field means the animals will have more space."Now that we're legally buying this land it's a huge weight off our heads, so that we don't have to relocate the animals we've got on here," he said."We're absolutely overwhelmed, absolutely gobsmacked by the support from the local community." David Lickley, one of the people who has lent money, said he was grateful to Brinsley Animal Rescue for saving the land."I know they couldn't have done it without our help but it's a no brainer because we are going to get the money back," he said."Obviously our back garden backs on to these fields and we didn't want houses being built on this greenbelt."Ian Smith, who has also lent money, said he and his wife love feeding Rosie and Dillwin."This view and these fields are what drew us to Brinsley to buy this property, and the things that the charity does for the area is fantastic," he said."We are so happy it's been saved. To know this field is safe and is in the hands of a local charity - which we have donated to and will continue to donate to - to help them out has been amazing."
Scotsman
13 hours ago
- Scotsman
Love is Blind: UK season 2: what time is it out on Netflix?
Love is Blind: UK is back but when exactly can you expect the episodes to come out? 👀 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Love is Blind: UK's second season starts this week. Netflix will be releasing the first episodes from August 13. But when exactly can you watch the episodes? A brand new season of Love is Blind: UK is about to kick-off. Matt and Emma Willis will be welcoming a fresh set of hopefuls into the pods. Netflix has confirmed when exactly the episodes from the second season will be released - with the series split across multiple weeks. Grab your golden wine-glass and prepare for more drama than ever. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But when exactly can you expect to be able to tune in? Here's all you need to know: What time is Love is Blind: UK out on Netflix? Netflix has confirmed that Love Is Blind UK will return on August 13 | Courtesy of Netflix Netflix tends to be as regular as clockwork when it comes to the time it puts out new shows and movies. It means that fans can sit down and know exactly when the latest episodes of their favourite series will be out. Love is Blind: UK is set to release its second season across multiple weeks with episodes streaming from 8am BST on Wednesday from August 13. If you have work or school, you may need to dodge spoilers on social media if you can't watch it straight away. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The only time that Netflix moves the release time is when it is covering live events, such as sports or the WWE. Full Love is Blind UK schedule for season 2 Netflix has confirmed it will be releasing the second season of Love Is Blind: UK over the course of three weeks. The dates will be as follows: Week 1 (Wednesday 13th August): Episodes 1-4 Week 2 (Wednesday 20th August): Episodes 5-8 Week 3 (Wednesday 27th August): Episodes 9-10 What to expect from Love is Blind: UK? Netflix has offered a tease for the upcoming episodes. It reads: 'UK and Ireland-based singles who want to be loved for who they are have signed up for a less-conventional approach to modern dating, and will choose someone to marry without ever meeting them. 'Over several weeks, the newly engaged couples will move in together, plan their wedding and find out if their physical connection matches their strong emotional bond developed in the Pods. When their wedding day arrives, will real-world realities and external factors push them apart, or will they marry the person they fell blindly in love with?' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The second season will once again be hosted by Matt and Emma Willis. The husband and wife duo will be on hand throughout all three weeks that the show is broadcast over. If you love TV, check out our Screen Babble podcast to get the latest in TV and film. Surprisingly cheap way to stream Sky Atlantic, Netflix and more (aff) £ 22.00 Sky TV Buy now Buy now Sky's latest TV deals are more affordable than you might expect – with the best value arguably being the Ultimate TV package. For just £22/month, you get Netflix, Discovery+, Sky Atlantic and over 35 extra channels including Sky Max, Sky Witness, Sky Documentaries and more. There are no upfront fees, and it's a 24-month contract. If you're after the basics, Essential TV starts from £15/month with Netflix and Sky Atlantic included, while sports fans can add Sky Sports for £35/month. All three plans offer strong value for new Sky customers.
BreakingNews.ie
14 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Keating family left with ‘unanswered questions' in justice system
Singer Ronan Keating said his family is left with 'unanswered questions' about investigatory and judicial processes following the death of his brother in a crash. Ciaran Keating, who was the older brother of the former Boyzone singer, died in a car crash in Co Mayo in July 2023. His wife Annemarie was also seriously injured in the crash. Advertisement Dean Harte, 22, from Tyrellspass in Westmeath, collided with Mr Keating's car while driving near Swinford in July 2023. He was given a 17-month suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Court in Mayo in February after he pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death, the Courts Service said. On the day of the crash, Ciaran and Annemarie had been travelling to watch their son play in a football match for Cork City in Sligo. Ronan helped carry the coffin of his brother Ciaran during his funeral in Louisburgh in July 2023. Advertisement Speaking about his brother's death on RTÉ's Drivetime on Wednesday, he said: 'You can't really put it into words, a situation like this, how it can tear a family apart. 'I remember getting the call from my sister Linda, and to hear her voice on the phone, to hear her screams on the phone, is something I can never forget. It will be forever etched in my brain, in my mind. 'What happened to Ciaran, the injustice, the heartbreak, the devastating impact it has, and not just on Ciaran's siblings, but on his children, his grandchildren, his wife. 'The ripples, it's overwhelming. As a family, you find it hard to breathe sometimes. Advertisement 'You have to shut it out. You have to block it because it's hard to get through your day. It's hard to put one foot in front of the other.' Ronan Keating spoke about the death of his brother and how it has impacted their family (Oliver McVeigh/PA) He added: 'You fill your day with things to, you know, things to take your mind off it. And he was my brother. He wasn't my dad, and he wasn't my granddad, you know. So what those kids have to go through is far, far harder than what we're going through as his siblings.' On the same programme, Ciaran's son Conall described his father as a 'hero' and 'mentor'. 'He was kind, gentle, proud man. Loved his family, loved his friends. Advertisement 'There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about him or see him in things that I do, and I'd give anything just to have another day with him.' Conall said his own children keep asking 'when is pap coming back?' all the time. Ciaran's brother Gerard said his confidence in the investigatory system was 'rocked' after he found an impacted door of the car in a ditch 10 metres from the crash site two days later. Ronan Keating said the discovery of the door should have been made by An Garda Síochána. Advertisement 'There are many questions, many questions. We have so many questions, but we're just a family. 'We're just another family that have been scarred by this broken system. 'Ger went there and was doing a job that the police force here in Ireland should be doing. It should have been covered with a fine-tooth comb.' Gerard Keating also told the programme that he was left with questions in the judicial system, adding that the family was 'scarred'. In relation to the suspended sentence handed to Harte, Ronan Keating said: 'All of the pain and the hurt is in losing somebody. This is just disgusting. It's awful – this situation.' He added: 'You can't get angry. You're floored. You're disappointed. The system is broken. 'As a family, we don't want to send some 22-year-old kid to jail. We don't want to see some kid go to jail whose life is going to be thrown away. That's not what we're looking for. 'But what we're looking for is to make sure somebody else doesn't die because of careless driving. That some other family's life is not going to be ripped apart.' Conall Keating said he would like to see 'credible deterrents' for drivers against careless and dangerous driving, adding that Ireland could 'pioneer' solutions around tracking speeding and phone use within cars. Asked if he still believed the justice system was broken, Ronan Keating said the family had not seen any evidence of change since the sentencing. 'It's up to us now, the family, to try to do something about it. We won't let this lie.'
