Latest news with #RoryGallagherFestival
The Journal
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Are small music festivals in Ireland becoming a thing of the past? Organisers weigh in
LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago ORGANISERS OF INDEPENDENT music festivals in Ireland have said that mounting costs are making it harder for them to keep going each year. Earlier this month there was confusion about whether major player Beyond The Pale would go ahead, and beloved smaller festivals are not going ahead this summer, including Bundoran Sea Sessions, Body and Soul, and Wild Roots. In Ballyshannon, Donegal, organiser Barry O'Neill says that it's currently uncertain whether the famed Rory Gallagher Festival will be able to go ahead next year either. It's been a staple of Ireland's independent music scene since 2002, and was originally founded as a way to honour the late great musician, but has since grown into a real tourism highlight for Donegal each summer. 'We attract 15,000 people each year and they come from all over, so this festival has become really essential to not just Ballyshannon, but the entire North West,' he said. Nevertheless, O'Neill says that the festival is struggling. 'We've had to launch a GoFundMe to try and secure next year, and that's not where we want to be,' he said. The Rory Gallagher Festival in Ballyshannon. He's calling on the Department of Culture to roll out a 'more transparent' funding model for grants, which he says would help to safeguard the future of smaller festivals . 'I know for the fact that there are festivals in the likes of Galway and Dublin that get more funding, despite the fact that they are bringing in the same number of people as us, and that's because of the city they are in. 'There is not a single TD or Senator who understands what it's like to organise an event like this in rural Ireland, and that's why I don't think there will be real change on this, but we need a more transparent funding model,' he said. Festivals in Ireland receive grants and support through local authorities, the Arts Council, Culture Ireland, and the Department of Culture's small scale local festivals and summer schools funding scheme, which allocates up to €5000 for not-for-profit local events. O'Neill says that requirements from state bodies around security, environmental concerns, and copyright fees from the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO). 'We're being charged by IMRO for the first time for 2024 and we're going through the process at the moment, I think it's something like 3% on each ticket. We support artists being paid, but all of these costs from state bodies add up, and the funding we receive doesn't balance them out,' he said. 'Suppliers want to be paid in advance' Craig Hughes is the founder of Night and Day Festival which has been staged in the Lough Key Forest Park in Roscommon for the last four years, and is currently taking place this weekend, with headlining sets from folk legend Paul Brady, KT Tunstall, José Gonaléz and more (some last minute tickets are available here ). It has a capacity of 4,500 people. 'Costs are up around 20% from when we first started. That's insurance, but it's also the practical costs that rise each year with inflation,' he said. Hughes said that the uncertainty around larger festivals has impacted independent operators. Advertisement (Beyond The Pale, a major festival that has been taking place in Co Wicklow for years, said it 'almost stumbled' close to its opening day earlier this month, but it went ahead in the end thanks to financial help from an operator that stepped in.) 'Independent festivals are being asked to pay for everything upfront, including artist's fees in many cases, so it can create cash flow problems,' he said. Hughes added that the best way people can support smaller festivals is by buying their tickets early if they can. 'It gives us the ability to plan more, and more flexibility with booking acts. Thankfully, we've had great support since we've started, but across the industry people have noticed an increasing tendency for people to book late. 'Weather is a big factor for people, but we have three high top tents and most festivals have provisions in place,' he said. 'Micro-festivals are popping off' The Another Love Story festival takes place from August 23rd to 25th this year in Meath. celeste burdon celeste burdon Emmet Condon has been running the Another Love Story festival at Killyon Manor in Meath for the last two years. This year the festival has gone from a three-day to two-day event, which Condon said has helped with ticket sales. 'They've flown out the door this year. People want intimate to mean intimate, and they want less time commitment, so two days works for them,' he said. Condon is now running a pop-up 'Love is a Stranger' mirco-festivals that offer 24 hours of live music, with one having already taken place in Sligo back in May, and another planned for this Augus t in Ballyvolane, Cork, with a capacity of 500-700 people. 'The interest in those has been huge,' he said. Condon said that in the last ten years the Irish market has expanded massively. 'We're part of that, obviously, but as the major festivals get bigger, and this year the likes of Electric Picnic sold out in minutes, smaller festivals are getting squeezed out, and that's what we're seeing,' he said. 'Small festivals are increasingly on the breadline between ticket sales and what corporate sponsorship they can attract,' Condon added. He said that when he started out, ALS had to sell 60% of its tickets to break even. 'That's probably at 90% now. People see people getting together listening to music in a field and assume the organisers are driving away in a Porsche, that's just not the case,' Condon further said. He agrees with Barry O'Neill of Rory Fest that funding models need to change. 'There's good support there for small-scale community events, and the major festivals are flying it, but for smaller commercial festivals, they are caught between those two camps, and they are struggling,' he said. He argues that smaller festivals offer some of the best live music experiences people can have. 'You really do get to know everyone by the end of it. We have 2000 people coming this year, and many of them will come away with new friends. There's something special about it that just makes it different to a huge, commercially driven event,' he said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
BreakingNews.ie
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
More funding needed to keep summer festivals running, senator says
Increased support is needed to help festivals in towns and communities across the country, a senator has said. Senator Manus Boyle said local summer festivals across the country are struggling to run events due to increased costs. Advertisement 'Many of our regional and rural festivals are really struggling and fearing for their future," he said. "We've seen the increased cost of running a festival, with the high cost of insurance, operational costs, site set up costs, and energy costs, so we need to see increased funding to support these community groups." Senator Boyle, from Donegal, said community run festivals, regattas, and local community events across the island are a highlight of the summer for hundreds of thousands of people. 'They are an annual tradition and often the pride of a locality hosting their main event. Many people who have moved from their homeplace to other areas of Ireland or abroad plan to come home to coincide when their local festival is on. Advertisement "It is an opportunity for friendships and families to be reunited and provides so many happy occasions during the Irish summer. 'In Donegal, the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival has been an integral part of the community for over two decades and now attracts visitors from all over the world each year to Ballyshannon. 'Fáilte Ireland research shows that the festival generates €4 million to the local economy and a total of €5 million nationally - taking into account the time spent by visitors elsewhere in the country including travel along the Wild Atlantic Way. 'As well as celebrating and promoting the music of this wonderful musician, and supporting Irish and international musical artists, the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival is vital for the survival of the local economy in South Donegal." Advertisement Boyle said he has asked Minister for Culture, Patrick O'Donovan, to urgently address the need for increased financial support for local festivals across Ireland.. 'Our community festivals bring people together, strengthening relationships and creating a sense of belonging. They provide a platform for residents to connect, interact, and build stronger community ties. 'Festivals can be a significant draw for tourists, bringing new visitors to the town who might not otherwise consider visiting. "Tourism revenue generated by festivals can be a major boost for the local economy and can also raise awareness of the town as a tourist destination, potentially attracting future visitors. 'We need our festivals to survive and continue, not just as a celebration of our musical heritage and the arts, but to contribute as a cornerstone of the local economy in small towns throughout the country."
Irish Independent
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Festivals running the risk of closing as call goes out for more funding from Fáilte Ireland
And, Cllr Thomas Walsh claimed that Fáilte Ireland were 'asleep at the wheel' as it has only given Sligo County Council a 'paltry €26,000' to run local festivals in the past five years. Cllr Walsh, who is involved with the Ballygawley Music Festival and Sligo Live, said festivals were hanging by a thread. He was speaking amid fears for the independent festival scene, after Sea Sessions in Bundoran announced it isn't going ahead this year, while a liquidator was appointed to the company behind the Wild Roots Festival in Sligo last year and is no more. Meanwhile, Barry O'Neill organiser of the hugely popular Rory Gallagher Festival in Ballyshanon has expressed fears for its future. Cllr Walsh said: 'There was a small bit of support for events over Covid but then inflation kicked in post Covid, and nothing was put in place for live festival events. 'So, costs have skyrocketed, and it is something I have been highlighting for years and the whole events thing is hanging on by a thread. 'This is because of huge increased costs, and I know from Ballygawley Music Festival in July and Sligo Summer Festival who were hoping to run a second weekend on the August Bank Holiday Weekend, but it was not possible because it would cost them an extra €70,000 to run a second weekend. 'Sligo Live and Cairde and our own festival are very successful, but our costs in Ballygawley are up on €120,000 which includes insurance, operational costs, site set up costs, energy costs and the cost of the acts have gone up because of the knock- on effects of the increase in the price of fuel for travel and their insurance has gone up too. 'All of that is passed on to the festivals and the organisers are forced to pass that on to the price of the ticket which is regrettable but necessary,' he said. Cllr Walsh added that nine smaller festivals collapsed in 2024, and the UK has the same problem where 60 folded last year. ADVERTISEMENT He added that another factor impacting was the huge crowds attending headline acts in Croke Park, the Aviva or other major venues. 'These massive artists sell out venues, but they are portraying a false economy because people are saving their money for the big festivals and not supporting the smaller ones.' Cllr Walsh was critical of Fáilte Ireland. 'Its budget from the State last year was €140m and all they give Sligo County Council for events in the county is a mere €26,000. That would not pay for a marquee, insurance etc 'Ballygawley gets €4,000 from Fáilte Ireland for an event that costs €120,000, so it would not cover even the toilet facilities.' 'But they do good work in terms of capital spending and Queen Maeve Square would not be there only for Failte Ireland and Strandhill Surf Centre of Excellence, so they are doing well on the capital side. 'But they are not supporting live is a three night festival and 5,000 people were there last year. Cllr Walsh added that Irish Public Bodies IPB who supply insurance and public liability for all Council offices and State facilities, could open it up to live events and it would take the cost away from the operator. 'I believe the State should take over the insurance via IPB which is their own insurance policy.' 'Fáilte Ireland should be made increase the funding to local authorities and I am talking about events of 500 and over and less than 5,000. '€26,000 is a kick in the teeth for Sligo festivals and €100,000 per local authority would not be out of the way and that is the reality of it. 'It would just get their heads above water and festivals are in survival mode all over the country. Cllr Walsh added that culture and arts were the backbone of our economy. 'There is a huge knock- on benefit for Sligo from all these festivals so they should be supported. 'Fáilte Ireland is the vehicle for tourism, and they talk about supporting visitor attractions and festivals but really they are not supporting festivals. 'Unless there is an injection of cash into these festivals more of them are going to collapse.'
RTÉ News
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Rory Gallagher instruments brought back to life at festival
Instruments belonging to the world-famous blues guitarist Rory Gallagher have been brought back to life in his birthplace of Ballyshannon, Co Donegal. Musicians have been given the opportunity to play guitars belonging to the guitarist who sold 30 million albums as part of the annual international Rory Gallagher Festival. Chairperson of the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival, Barry O'Neill, told RTÉ News that collectors in Ballyshannon were able to secure several guitars, harmonicas, a mandola and other items during an auction in London last October. The instruments, which will go on display as part of a permanent exhibition later this year, include a mandola made by Chris Eccleshall, who also made instruments for David Bowie, Peter Townshed and Eric Clapton. Barry O'Neill said they are "delighted it is going to rest in Ballyshannon" as it is an important part of musical heritage as Rory Gallagher only had one mandola. The collection also includes a supro dual-tone electric guitar, gifted to Rory Gallagher in 1985 by Canadian slide guitarist Paul Fenton. He played the instrument extensively on tours in north America and Canada in the 1980s. Ciarán Hodgins, a musician from Ballyshannon, said it was an honour and "a once in a life [opportunity] to play the instrument". "The guitar is road worn. Rory was a hard player but as soon as it's connected to an amplifier - it's as good as new. "It's surreal and it's a real honour to play it and to keep Rory Gallagher's legacy alive in Ballyshannon," he said. Tickets for this weekend's festival have been sold in 22 countries. Rory Gallagher was born at the Rock Hospital in Ballyshannon in 1948. His family moved to Derry city before settling in Cork. He died in 1995. As a recording artist, he sold over 30 million albums during his career. He played and toured around the globe. Visitors from UK, France and Australia said they made the journey to Ballyshannon because of their love for Rory Gallagher's music as well as the camaraderie and friendship found at the festival. Julian Vignoles, author of Rory Gallagher: The Man Behind the Guitar said he has "only missed one year" of the festival which is like "a pilgrimage". "People like me come to express our belief in the power and the majesty of Rory Gallagher's music." Guitarist Johnny Gallagher said the Rory Gallagher Festival created a great interest in rhythm and blues and rock and roll music. "It's a fantastic positive. Some of the greatest bands and guitarists in the world are coming to the festival. "Down and dirty with the blues in Ballyshannon - sure you couldn't be at it in a better place," he said.
