Use of UK firm for Gathering launch defended
The Gathering and Davis Events — the Irish group behind tonight’s New Year’s Eve events — said the move is to ensure the best show possible in the safest way. An Irish fireworks company claims it was just as able for the project.
As part of tonight’s festivities — to be shown live on RTÉ and attended by 70 international media outlets, including NBC and Sky News — a major concert headlined by Imelda May and Bell X1 will take place in the heart of Dublin City.
A fireworks extravaganza will also ring in the new year. The event is officially under the auspices of Fáilte Ireland but is being used as the first stage in the Gathering celebrations, a festival billed as showcasing the best of what Ireland has to offer.
However, Davis Events said the fireworks will be run by Pains Fireworks, from Salisbury in England.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Paul Davis of Davis Events said the decision was made due to the St Stephen’s Green location, and that the firm is best qualified due to the closeness of Georgian buildings and national heritage sites.
He said the contract rules were not “specific to where a company is based”.
A Gathering spokeswoman said while it part-funds tonight’s event, “the appointment of subcontractors is the responsibility of Davis Events, not of the funders”.
However, she backed the decision to appoint a “specialised firm”.
Irish company Rocket Pyrotechnics hit out at the decision, describing it as “an insult to companies here”.
Managing director Donal McMahon said his firm should have been considered as it organised displays at national heritage sites before.
These include former president Mary McAleese’s reinauguration in 2004; the Skyfest at King John’s Castle in Limerick in May; and the Rose of Tralee every year for the past decade.
Mr McMahon said his firm organised the pyrotechnics for New Year’s Eve in Dublin last year.
NYE Dublin festival events:
* 6pm: ‘People’s Procession of Light’ will see hundreds of lanterns carried from Suffolk St to St Stephen’s Green, joined by fire breathers.
* 7.45pm: Lanterns will spell out “The Gathering” to a worldwide audience, before the 8pm display.
* 8.30pm: Open-air gig at College Green. Tickets cost €20, with acts including Imelda May, BellX1, Electric Céilí, and street theatre performances.
* Tuesday, 11am-3.30pm: Meeting House Square in Temple Bar will become a family entertainment area with face painting, puppet and magic shows.
* Taoiseach Enda Kenny will also launch Ireland’s six-month EU presidency at Dublin Castle.
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