More money for festival which attracts thousands

More money for festival which attracts thousands

2 July 2014

DOWN Council is to increase its budget for this summer’s prestige Festival of Flight in Newcastle which is just weeks away.

Politicians have agreed to allocate an additional £21,500 to the flagship event in August featuring the Red Arrows which last year attracted 125,000 visitors.

Members of the local authority’s Cultural and Economic Development Committee were told on Monday night that the additional money is being taken from existing budgets and will not result in the local authority going into the red.

The three-day festival will cost almost £150,000 to put on, but provides the district with a major economic windfall, councillors were told.

They heard estimates from 2013 suggest the increasingly popular festival — which organisers say will be even bigger and better this year — generated almost £3m in income for the district.

Council officials are keen to ensure the Newcastle event remains Northern Ireland’s number one flying festival, with local politicians weighing with their support to ensure this happens.

A number of aircraft taking part in this year’s display have never before been seen in the skies above Northern Ireland and include a Canberra, two Gnats, two Vampire aircraft and a Seafire. The iconic Vulcan is also returning this August.

Council officials are keen to attract more cross-border visitors to the festival and plan to keep adding to the event to keep ahead of their main competitors for similar events, including Portrush.

Councillor Billy Walker said the Newcastle event provides a major boost for the resort and backed Down Council’s plans to keep improving the event to continue making it the best of its kind in Northern Ireland.

“This event just gets better and better and is second to none. It’s a festival we are delighted to have in our district,” he added.

Councillor Willie Clarke said there is no doubt the Festival of Flight is a major event for the district and the island of Ireland and already attracts visitors south of the border. He said the many additional components of the August festival have also helped make it a major success, with events like the outdoor cinema making it a real family occasion.

He said while Sinn Fein “continues to be opposed to the Red Arrows” it recognises the importance of the festival to the district, seeking assurances there would be no RAF or British Army recruitment stands in Newcastle this August.

Councillor Stephen Burns asked if the event’s budget included money for a post-festival evaluation of its benefit, explaining such information will be beneficial when the event is discussed by the new Newry, Mourne and Down Council. He said no one wants to see the Newcastle festival going off the radar given its importance.

Council director, Michael Lipsett, gave an assurance that there would be no RAF or Army recruitment stands in the resort to coincide with the festival and that there will be a post-event evaluation.

He also confirmed a specialist company will film the festival with the footage used in promotional material around the globe. Mr. Lipsett said the festival continues to be a major success and revealed very ambitious plans are in the pipeline for next year to make the festival “truly All-Ireland.”

• See our Festival of Flight feature in our Tourist Paper on page 32.