Three year funding boost for St Patrick’s Festival

Three year funding boost for St Patrick’s Festival

12 August 2015

THE St Patrick’s Festival celebrations in Downpatrick are set to get even bigger and better.

A spectacular cross-community float parade forms the centrepiece of a week of celebrations in March which have received a major funding boost over the next three years from Tourism NI.

The budget for the 2016 festival has increased to almost £87,000 with Tourism NI adding £39,560 to £47,250 already set aside by Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

St Patrick has been identified as a key signature project by Tourism NI which has made almost £293,500 available to Newry, Mourne 

and Down and Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon councils  over the next three years to help them attract more visitors to their respective celebrations in honour of the patron saint.

A festival development team comprising tourism and events staff will work alongside Tourism NI and Tourism Ireland developing the festival in Downpatrick to encourage more visitors to attend the event.

Councillor Dermot Curran, the chairman of the council’s Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism Committee, said the St Patrick’s Festival celebrations in Downpatrick are already amongst the best in Ireland.

“The extra money will help make one of the best even better,” he declared. “The new council is very committed to developing our tourism offering and the support of Tourism NI for the St Patrick’s Festival celebrations is a welcome boost.”

Councillor Curran said the St Patrick’s Festival attracts thousands of people to Downpatrick and is looking forward to seeing how the event will be further developed as a result of the additional funding provided by Tourism NI.

He added: “The cross-community festival is a real success story and the event is set to get even bigger and better. That is great news for Downpatrick and the wider district. The funding boost provided by Tourism NI presents a great opportunity to develop what is already a very exciting festival.”

Councillor Willie Clarke has described the financial support for developing the festival as a “major boost” for the area, particularly as the new super council is focusing heavily on its tourism offering. He said the drive to develop major festivals is designed to not only attract more visitors to the area, but generate an economic boost for the business community.

“Newry, Mourne and Down Council is very much in favour of developing its tourism product and this vision is at the heart of its corporate plan. The council is especially keen to build the area’s economy and tourism development is a key part of this,” said councillor Clarke.

Members of the council’s Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism Committee were addressed on Monday night by former Down Council chief executive, John McGrillen, who is now head of Tourism NI. Councillor Clarke believe his appointment is good news for the area.

“We now have someone at the head of Tourism NI who has a deep understanding, appreciation and needs of our area. That can only be a good thing. Mr McGrillen said he is committed to working in partnership with the new super council and that is very positive,” he continued.

Councillor Clarke also wants the new council to make office space available for Tourism NI staff to work more closely with local authority tourism and events officials as work begins to develop the St. Patrick’s Festival.

He added: “A closer working relationship between the council and Tourism NI can only bring about positive results. We are keen to develop our tourism development strategy and with Tourism NI helping us I believe exciting times lie ahead. Working together on the important issue of tourism can only produce the best outcomes.”