The November Plenary meeting in the Council Office in Dungarvan, saw a presentation from the Department of Tourism and Festivals in Waterford.
The department was broadly commended for doing an excellent job of making Waterford an attractive location for both festival goers and tourists.
The presentation provoked conversation regarding what more Waterford could do to improve their festival offering. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann emerged as the clear front-runner that Waterford councillors believe the Festivals department should pursue.
Speaking at the meeting Fine Gael Councillor, Damien Geoghegan, said “We’ve seen Fleadh Cheoil being held in Wexford for the past two years. It’s going to Belfast next year and will probably be in Belfast the year after that. I think it’s something that Waterford should go for.
“Waterford city is absolutely made for the Fleadh Cheoil. €60 million, which I think is a conservative estimate, was pumped into the Wexford economy in 2024 and they reckon this year it is even better again.
“We saw Waterford City at its very, very best when the Tall Ships came here twice a number of years ago. I think it is something the Council should go for. I think having it in Waterford City the entire city and town would benefit.”
This was backed enthusiastically by Sinn Féin Councillor Joeanne Bailey, who said acquiring Fleadh Cheoil was among her first motions as a Councillor.
“This is one of the main festivals in Ireland. We should be going and getting Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. We have a great Irish tradition here in the West. We should be going after that, and we should be going after the Tall Ships again, putting a strategy in place for 10 years.”
Fine Gael Councillor Pat Nugent, added his agreement but warned “Now is the time to be looking for it, for five years’ time.”
While the council executive did acknowledge that the Fleadh Cheoil was an excellent event, Director of Services for Economic Development, Michael Quinn, did not share the councillors view that this should be pursued immediately.
“In relation to the Fleadh Cheoil I have a slightly more nuanced thinking on that. I think it is a great event but it happens at the time of year, by its nature, it has to be in the middle of the summer, so we’re already at full capacity.
“I would certainly think we should look for it when we get one or two of the new hotels in Waterford City coming on stream.
“I think there’s a real opportunity to try and tie it in with something like that which would provide additional capacity. And then we can leverage that. I think there is an opportunity after Belfast to look at that.”
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme.
