A city councillor has blasted county and city officials for organising a large summer gig in Galway Airport without informing elected representatives.
English superstar DJ, Fatboy Slim, is booked to play at the unused airport on Friday, 9 August next year, as part of his eight-venue ‘Loves Summer’ tour of unusual locations across Ireland and Britain. Galway Airport is jointly owned by Galway City Council and Galway County Council, and was closed to commercial aircraft in 2011.
“This is a stark thing to say, but I don’t understand how officials in the city council and county council can decide on a whim on an issue like this while keeping us elected representatives in the dark,” says Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Crowe. “I’m not opposed to Fatboy Slim or any other lad playing a concert, and I’m not against this, but it sets a bad precedent – again – when 18 representatives [in the city] are not able to ascertain if a proposal will benefit or possibly harm our city’s interests.”
The electronic music event at the 115-acre airport site is being advertised “subject to licence” by promoter MCD Productions, and tickets go on sale online tomorrow, Friday, 3 November.
Councillor Crowe says he has been asking city and county officials for information on transforming the dilapidated airport to a temporary music venue for two months without substantial reply, and was forced to publish an open letter in the Galway Advertiser last month airing his concerns.
“As a city councillor, my responsibility is the people of the city, and good luck to the county reps doing their best for the county. But I’ve been around long enough to know how these big promoters work long-term, and I’m worried the commercial effect a series of ‘summer sessions’ in county Galway could have on the biggest calendar event in the western region: the Galway International Arts Festival.”
The Fianna Fáil councillor has demanded a report from city officials on how the Fatboy Slim concert was arranged by county council staff, and what the terms of the contract is. He fears artists may sign agreements which prevent them performing in the west of Ireland for specified time periods, thereby potentially reducing the number of acts for GIAF’s commercially vital Big Top headline performances held in Fisheries Field each July.
“I hope to be handed a report that changes my mind,” says Crowe.
Fatboy Slim’s agent and MCD Productions did not respond to enquiries from the Galway Advertiser. Galway County Council was unable to reply by time of going to press.
See Entertainment section for more information.
