Festival chiefs meet to discuss volunteer shortage

Organisers of many of Ireland's best-known local festivals gather today for talks on how to cope with the dwindling number of volunteers who prop up the events.

The Association of Irish Festival Events (Aoife), an all-island umbrella body, is concerned about the costs of having to employ staff because of the difficulties in recruiting voluntary workers.

Local festivals attracted eight million people this year, generating €300m for the Irish economy.

Aoife chief executive Colm Croffy will tell the organisation's annual conference in Co Galway today that many will not be able to survive without help.

"The costs of the festivals and events season would rise by 60% if it were not for the free time given by the 45,000 volunteers," he said.

"If you had to pay a salary to every person at every barrier, the events would not be able to survive and cover their expenses."

Community Affairs Minister Eamon O'Cuiv will be among those who address the conference in Ballinasloe which will also focus on cultural tourism, sponsorship and marketing.

International delegates from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Harrogate International Festival, Tennessee Arts Festival, the Guggenheim in Bonn, the Reykjavik Arts Festival and Finland Festivals will attend.

Aoife - an all-island network organisation that brings together organisers of festivals and events in Ireland - has seen the number of members grow from 245 in 2003 to 401 in 2007.