Concern over future of Festival of Flight

Concern over future of Festival of Flight

5 April 2017

LOCAL council officials are remaining tight-lipped about the future of the international Festival of Flight held in Newcastle each summer.

There is intense speculation locally that the annual flagship tourist event — which generates several million pounds for the district’s economy — may be considerably dumbed down this summer or not get off the ground at all.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council has been asked several times for a comment on the future of the festival which draws over 80,000 visitors to the resort, but it has yet to respond.

The Festival of Flight is one of the largest events of its kind in Northern Ireland, and has featured the famous Red Arrows on many occasions.

Significantly, there has been no confirmation that the RAF team will be in Newcastle for the event this summer which is normally supported by private sector investment and Tourism NI.

Indeed, there is speculation locally that problems obtaining a major sponsor is forcing council officials to rethink their plans for the festival and that in the absence of private funding, the event could potentially not go ahead for the first time in six years. 

Fears there will be no festival are being further compounded by the fact there have been no planning meetings for the annual event. Each year monthly inter-agency meetings take place from January onwards comprising a host of organisations including the police, Fire Service, Coastguard, RNLI, health and safety experts and senior council officials. No meetings have taken place this year to date.

The Festival of Flight is one of the highlights in Northern Ireland’s summer programme and has been an outstanding success since its launch, with the Mourne Mountains and Dundrum Bay providing a stunning back for a variety of aircraft which take part in the stunning airborne spectacle.

Mournes councillor, Willie Clarke, said he hopes the festival will go ahead this summer given the “huge success” it has been since its launch.

“The festival has had a major impact in the resort and provided a major boost for the local economy. It is an event I wish to see growing and expanding in the years ahead,” he said.

“While the main focus is on the aerial displays, there are other aspects to the summer festival which provide a significant boost for the resort’s hospitality industry and other businesses given the huge number of people the event attracts,” he added.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council refused to comment on the speculation.