More than €50,000 has been allocated to 17 Galway festivals and sports events, including to the Clifden Arts Festival, the Vodafone Comedy Carnival Galway, and Connemarathon.
The funding is part of the 2017 Regional Festivals and Participative Events Programme, administered by Fáilte Ireland, and funded by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
The allocations have been welcomed by the Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources, and Fine Gael Galway West TD Seán Kyne. “The staging of these festivals and events each year is very important for Galway’s tourism sector and also the creative life of the city and county. The festivals help to increase visitor and tourist numbers and provide a boost to local businesses," he said. "In recognition of the importance of tourism to Connemara, several festivals and events are included in this round of funding including the Connemara Mussel Festival and the Connemara Bog and Sea Week as well as sporting events including the Tour de Connemara and the Connemara Marathon."
The allocations were Clifden Arts Festival (€9,500 ), Galway Food Festival (€5,000 ), Vodafone Comedy Carnival Galway (€5,000 ), Galway Cup (€4,000 ), Connemara Mussel Festival (€4,000 ), Conamara Bog & Sea Week and Conamara Summer School (€3,000 ), Tour de Conamara (€2,500 ), Connemarathon (€2,500 ), Galway International Marathon (€2,500 ), Baboró International Arts Festival for Children (€2,000 ), Cruinniu na mBad (€2,000 ), INISH Island Conversations (€2,000 ), Clarenbridge Oyster Festival (€2,000 ), Macnas Halloween participative event (€1,500 ), Galway Sevens (€1,000 ), Galway Pride Festival (€1,000 ), and Gospel Rising Music Festival (€1,000 ).
