Councillors appeal for more funding for Lakeland Sessions

The council has announced a funding allocation of €43,650 for festivals and events in the Mullingar Kinnegad municipal district.

Some of the key beneficiaries include Lakeland Sessions, which is to receive €12,000, although it requested €45,000.

The two-day event will take place from August 3-4 in Blackhall, where the legendary Wolfe Tones and UK boyband Five will perform in The Bachelor Big Top Tent.

Other events to receive allocations are WinterFest 2024 (€10,000), organised by the Chamber of Commerce, the Mullingar Agricultural Show (€5,000), and a Harvest BBQ and Barn Dance at Multyfarnham (€1,500).

The council’s total festival and events budget for 2024 is €150,000, up €40,000 from last year.

At a district meeting on July 1, Cllr Ken Glynn, district mayor, welcomed the latest allocation but noted that Lakeland Sessions organisers had been hoping for more.

“They were hoping to get a significant amount towards the event,” he said.

“Is there anything more that can be done or any other avenues we can pass them on to?

"They have contacted a number of councillors in town and made it quite clear that they’re relying on this money.

“The event is going to bring quite a number of people to the town, it’s going to be good for business and it’s going to be good for the region.”

Cllr Aoife Davitt also asked if more could be done for the event, which is in its third year.

“They have asked councillors for help with this,” she said.

“They saw a void after the fleadh, they saw Life Fest wasn’t going on, which some of us are probably happy with in a way, but they were hoping to bring something to the town. Is there funding that could be got somewhere else?”

Executive officer Pat Murtagh suggested the event could seek LEADER funding.

Last year’s headliners at the Blackhall event included Marc McCabe, 2 Unlimited and Dario G.