Festivals and cultural events around Galway City and County have benefited from over €100,000, Galway Fine Gael TD Sean Kyne has confirmed. The Minister of State for Tourism, Michael Ring has confirmed to Deputy Kyne that 17 festivals and events around Galway were allocated funding in the Failte Ireland programme.

“In Connemara, funding has been granted to the Clifden Bicentenary Celebrations, the Connemara Pony Festival as well as sporting events including the Connemara Rough Diamond Adventure Race and the Gaelforce Trail Blazers Event, the latter of which is organised by the Kilary Adventure Centre in Leenane.

“Galway’s reputation as a centre of creativity and excellence in the arts will be further boosted by the allocation of funding for several cultural events including the Cúirt International Festival of Literature, the Baboro International Arts Festival and the Clifden Community Arts Festival. “The funding is provided by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and distributed by Fáilte Ireland.

Despite the constraints on public funds, I’m glad to see the emphasis is on providing targeted funds to as many organisations and community groups as possible for specific events which artistically and culturally promote Galway and have highly positive effects for our crucially-important local tourism industry,” concluded Deputy Kyne.

The €104,000 funding is being distributed to groups around the city and county with €3,000 going to Aras Eanna Arts Festivals, €8,000 to Celtic Series Tour de Conamara, €9,000 to Clifden’s bicentenary celebrations, €3,000 to Connemara Pony Festival, €5,000 to the Connemara Rough Diamond Adventure Race, €3,500 to Feile Baid Seoil, €4,000 to the Four Seasons Walking Festival, €10,000 to the Gaelfore Trail Blazers and Family Event, €7,000 to the Clifden Community Arts Festival, €3,000 to the 2012 Galway International Rally, €8,000 to Baboro International Arts Festival, €7,500 to the Cuirt International Festival Of Literature, €2,500 to the Galway Early Music Festival, €17,500 to the Galway Food Festival, €5,000 to the Latin Quarter Festival Initiative, €5,000 to the Umbro Galway Cup, and €3,000 to the Ballinasloe Horse Fair And Festival.

Source: galwayindependent.com

C1Sb Editor