Festivals good for finances and fun as millions pack events

WE are a festive nation — and the latest figures confirm it. Irish festivals attracted more than seven million revellers in 2002, equivalent to every person in the country attending at least one event.

And not only are festivals occasions of fun, but they also generate direct investment worth €8.9 million to the local economies that put them on. In the wider economy, the festival industry provides spin-off spending in other sectors of an estimated €31.7m a year.

Details of the research findings were given by the Association of Irish Festival Events (AOIFE), which began its three-day annual conference in Tralee's Brandon Hotel yesterday.