Fleadh delight at €150,000 funding boost

Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann chief Joe Connaire has reacted with delight to the announcement of a €150,000 funding boost for this year’s Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Mullingar.

The allocation amounts to almost 10 per cent of the €1.7m the event is expected to cost.

“As chairman of the Fleadh Executive Committee (FEC), I’m absolutely thrilled that we are getting this funding to support us in our efforts,” said Mr Connaire, describing the allocation as “a huge boost”.

Mr Connaire went on to reveal that the effort to secure sponsorship has been taxing, and he was grateful to Minister Peter Burke and Deputy Robert Troy for their efforts to secure grant aid for the fleadh, which was announced by Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage of Ireland, and Kieran O’Donnell TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning.

“This is a huge sum of money,” he commented.

“It will make our job a little bit easier to pay the bills when they all start rolling in after the event on August 14 it’s great news and we are only eight weeks out from the fleadh now and we hope to have it bigger and better than we did last year and I sincerely want to thank our FEC committee of volunteers who have brought this event to Mullingar and thank everyone involved that has helped us in any way over the last year and this year.”

Minister of State Peter Burke said it is the second year in a row that grant aid of €150,000 has been allocated to the fleadh and while the economic benefits that the fleadh will bring to the Mullingar community are “huge”, balanced with this is the need for capital in order to run a properly-resourced and accessible festival.

“There is a huge funding requirement much of which is raised through the hard work of the Fleadh Committee to run this major cultural event successfully and additional funding like this is critical,” said Minister Burke.

“I’ve been working with the Fleadh Committee and stakeholders over the last number of years, and have seen at first-hand the effort and the capital that is needed to support the Fleadh in the town,” he added.

Deputy Robert Troy said that he had been “delighted” to receive word of the allocation of the grant, which is to be administered through the local authority, as had also been done last year.

“This was a grant that the group themselves didn't know they were going to receive because it was a once off last year but I was delighted earlier this year, in April, to facilitate a deputation with Minister Darragh O'Brien and with Fleadh committee member Colette Glynn and Declan Leonard and they put their case to the minister and clearly demonstrated how this funding was critical for the smooth running of the fleadh and I’m delighted that he took their points on board and the money has now been approved.”

Deputy Troy said the fleadh had been “an exceptional event”: “It was brilliant for our local community and brilliant to have so many visitors coming to our community and it’s important that we support it in every way that we can and I’m looking forward myself to volunteering this year - as I did last year - and I’m looking forward to having the fleadh exceed our expectations!”

He concluded by commending the fleadh executive.

Minister Burke also said he appreciated the work and effort the voluntary committee has put in over the last number of years to host this incredible event: “There was a great buzz around the town, the Council and the Committee had the place looking fantastic last year with a huge thanks to Mullingar Tidy Towns as well. I have offered my office again this year to the Committee for the week. The preparations have been made for two years now and I know we are all looking forward for the festivities to begin and if we get a repeat of the good weather, it will be another bonus, roll on the 6th August!”