Minister announces €1.3m in festival funding

Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring has announced just over €1.3m in funding for 29 festivals and events this year.

They include the Cork International Choral Festival, the Great Limerick Run, Listowel Writer’s Week, the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival, Galway Arts Festival and many more events ranging across the arts, sport and culture.

"We want to make 2014 even more successful for tourism than The Gathering year of 2013," he said.

"This new funding for 29 festivals will boost our events schedule for overseas visitors and give them even more reasons to visit our country."

Further funding under Fáilte Ireland’s Regional Festivals and Events Programme will be announced in the near future.

Fáilte Ireland CEO Shaun Quinn said: "Festivals and events are the lifeblood of Irish tourism – complementing the beauty of our landscapes and the friendliness of our people with a rich variety of spectacle and experiences.

"These events will provide the backbone to the tourism calendar in communities throughout the country and add to our ability to grow overseas visitors and revenue."