Athlone Municipal District has allocated €23,425 to festivals and events taking place in the area from now until the end of 2017.
The allocation comes as part of round two of funding from the Festival & Event Grant Scheme, with a further €20,725 already allocated in the first half of 2017, bringing the total for the year to €44,150. A figure of €5,000 was also set aside by the council at the start of the year, for direct support costs incurred by the district engineer.
Tri Athlone, taking place on July 8, received the largest allocation at €8,000.
An allocation of €1,500 has been provided to the upcoming Festival Fringe Food & Craft Fair, taking place in July. The Athone RNLI River Festival and the Summer Food and Craft Fair, both also taking place in July, also received a €1,500 contribution.
A total of €2,275 will support Ireland’s Heartland Heritage Festival in Moate in November, while the Moate Agricultural Show (August 27 ) and Athlone Christmas market received an allocation of €2,000 each.
Ballymore Country Music Festival (August ), Moate Bike Festival and Community Day (September ), the Spooktacular Hallowe’en Event (October 28 ), and Moate Christmas Experience will all enjoy a €1,000 allocation to each of their purses.
Sarsfield Square Residents Assocation’s 80 years birthday celebrations and Mount Temple Family Heritage Day will receive €250 and €400 respectively.
It had originally been suggested that Force Racing from Marist College, who are competing in the F1 in Schools championships, should be given an allocation of €250. However, after interjections from Sinn Féin councillor Paul Hogan it was decided that money left over from last year’s cancelled River Festival should also be allowed to the team.
Mayor of Athlone Aengus O’Rourke welcomed the funding, commenting that it is great to see festivals coming to the fore once again. He said he had been concerned last year following the cancellation of the River and Food Festival, but said Athlone can now look forward to a summer and beyond full of events.
