Dollard adds voice to appeal for fleadh funds

Those that benefited financially from last year’s Fleadh Cheoil in Mullingar should put their hands in their pockets and not expect the county council to write a blank cheque, local councillor, Mick Dollard, declared last week.

At their monthly meeting, members of Westmeath County Council heard that preparations for this year’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann are nearly complete, as some of the work had already been done last year.

Unlike 2022, however, Leader funding may not be available, and it is not known if funding secured by the then Minister for State, Peter Burke, TD, will be repeated.

Council director of services, David Jones, said it is still hoped that they may get some Leader funding, but it will be less than last year.

Funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, has been secured.

The council gave a block grant of €400,000 last year and the same has been approved for this year. The fleadh was run without incurring a debt as the Fleadh Executive Committee (FEC) controlled costs and maximised sponsorship, grant aid and ticket sales, and it is hoped that the same can be achieved this year.

The meeting heard that 500,000 people attended the fleadh last year, and that generated €50 million in the local economy. Cllr Dollard said the people who made the most from fleadh 2022 should “put their hands in their pockets”.

“A lot of groups and organisations in this town benefited financially and it is time they put their hands in their pockets and I think they should not expect a blank cheque from any local authority,” he stated.

Cllr Ken Glynn urged that the council ensure the organising committee are not left with a deficit. He was also anxious businesses would not be blocked by barriers because these people “need to earn a few bob too”.

Cllr Denis Leonard hoped the organisers would not have to go door to door to make up a deficit, as they did in Drogheda. He said it is going to cost €1.7m to run this year’s fleadh and the FEC will have to raise most of it. He asked that a member of the committee address the council on what is needed and what they have learned from last year.

In reply, Mr Jones said the council, the FEC and Comhaltas are working to ensure that there is no deficit.

Cllr Tom Farrell wondered why there was no charge for car parking as that would help offset any deficit and “people would not mind paying say a fiver”. He was told that there was an insurance issue associated with charging for such car parks.

Cllr Frankie Keena agreed that those who benefited from the €50m last year should reciprocate with increased contributions to Fleadh 2023. He also felt the council should have got more recognition in the magazine distributed nationwide by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann after last year’s event.

Anne-Marie Corroon, Fleadh Office administrator, said the council had no input into the national magazine, but they are proactively looking at showcasing Westmeath County Council in this year’s fleadh programme and have ensured that their logo is on the gig rig and on signs around the town.

They will speak to the FEC about being included in the national magazine too.