Festival funding boost for Fingal 

FINGAL County Council has announced funding of €288,000 to 43 groups and organisations across the county under the Festival and Events Funding Programme 2020.

Awarded by Events Unit from the Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development Department, the funding will assist a wide range of musical, sporting and cultural events across the county in the months ahead.

The Events Unit recently released its calendar for 2020 which covers 30 event locations, supporting 12 community festivals, 36 family events, 16 cultural events, 21 historical events along with 20 sporting events and seven concerts.

Among the highlights are the Balbriggan Summerfest, Howth Maritime and Seafood Festival, the seven St Patrick’s Day parades in the county, two motorcycle races, a Dublin 15 Family Fun Day, Safer Together Summer Festival and the European Cross Country Championships in December.

The Leinster Fleadh will take place in Swords this July and is expected to attract up to 100,000 visitors over the 10 days. This is a Creative Fingal supported event with an extensive programme of activities and 300 competitions.

In addition, the Events Unit also supports the seven 5k Parkruns across the county, which attracts 240,000 participants, as well as the four Junior Parkruns which now has 33,000 participants.

The successful groups attended an Event and Festival training session at Fingal offices where presentations were made by Dublin Fire Brigade, the Health Service Executive and Fingal County Council’s Operations and Environmental Awareness sections.   

Since the formation of the Events Unit in 2010, the number of events being held and supported annually has increased year on year. 

The programme is a combination of the council’s own events, events in partnership with other bodies that have similar objectives, and events run by external organisers who receive direct funding contributions from the council through a financial assistance programme.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien said the significant funding allocation will play a vital role in fostering a sense of pride in communities across Fingal.

“I have no doubt that they will attract local people and visitors from far and wide and I look forward to attending many of the events in the months ahead,” he said. 

Director of Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development Emer O’Gorman said: “We are delighted to provide financial support to this broad range of groups and organisations which generate many positive economic, social and cultural benefits across our communities. 

“Promoting, funding and organising sustainable festivals and events is a key action of the Fingal Statement of Tourism Strategy 2017-2022.”