RUSH Harbour Festival is to take place at its original venue this August Bank Holiday Weekend after plans to relocate it met with local objections.
Rush Festival Committee, which is part of Rush Community Council, had attempted to find a new home for the event this year as a new children’s playground has recently opened at Harbour Park, reducing the amount of space available.
A proposal to move the festival to a large coastal green at Tayleurs Point, known locally as the
‘Fairy Field’, received a number of objections from some residents living in the estate.
Those opposed to the location were concerned about traffic and parking issues, as well as the prospect of late night entertainment and a bar being located in such close proximity to their homes.Â
However, there was also a degree of support for the field being used for the festival from other Tayleurs Point residents.
The issue provoked a lively debate on local social media pages, with some supporters of the proposed location arguing that the Tayelurs Point field should have been allowed to host the festival this year on a trial basis.
Objectors claimed there had been no advance consultation with Tayleurs Point residents about using the field for the festival.
In a statement, Fingal County Council said:
“Having taken on board the views of the community and engaged in detailed consultations with Fingal County Council and other statutory agencies, Rush Festival Committee, which is a sub-committee of the Rush Community Council, has decided to stage this year’s Rush Harbour Festival in the Harbour Park from Friday, August 4 to Monday, August 7.
“Rush has had a long history of staging summer festivals, like the May Bush Festival which ran during the 1970s and 1980s, and the Harbour Festival, which was started in 2010 and has become the major August Bank Holiday festival in the north county and a source of much-needed funds for community projects.
?
The statement added:
“Since it was founded in 1974, Rush Community Council has endeavoured to co-ordinate the efforts of various community groups under one umbrella and to unite them in their endeavours. The community council and the town’s various community groups are made up of volunteers who give of their time to make Rush a better place to live in and today’s residents are reaping the dividends of that work.Â
“Rush Community Council and the Rush Tourism Committee look forward to working with Fingal County Council and other agencies to prepare for the 2017 Rush Harbour Festival and look forward to welcoming the residents of the town, as well as visitors from near and far, to this year’s event over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
?
Rush Harbour Festival is a highlight of the social calender in north county Dublin, with children’s funfairs, food stalls, a craft fair and live entertainment attracting thousands of visitors to the area.
