by Alan Jacques
ORGANISERS of the Knights of WestFest, an annual four-day family festival in Newcastle West, are seeking €40,000 in funding from Limerick City and County Council to make this year’s event the biggest and best yet.
WestFest has grown year on year in attendance with up to 40,000 expected to turn out for the event this September, up from the 15,000 attendance in 2011.
As well as playing host to such homegrown musical heroes as The Coronas, Mary Black, The Saw Doctors and Sharon Shannon down the years, the festival has also increased footfall into Newcastle West with a much-welcomed injection of business into the local economy.
Running costs for this year’s event are estimated to be €359,375, up from €260,000 last year. The festival programme includes a range of events such as bungee jumping, soapbox derby, adventure races, family fun days as well as the Taste of WestFest food village at the Desmond Hall.
Speaking at this month’s Newcastle West municipal district meeting, festival director Stephen O’Grady pointed out the huge economic benefit to the town. He said that accommodation in West Limerick was totally booked out for the event and that ticket sales from outside the county now account for 16 to 20 per cent of total ticket sales.
“We had huge loss of funding last year which is very important to the festival. We are looking for your support,” he told council members.
Limerick City and County Council’s operation manager for the West and South division, Brian Kennedy said that it was a matter for councillors to discuss. He explained that the local authority has previously given assistance during the festival with the clean-up and road closures and said they would continue to do so.
“We will assist as best we can,” said Mr Kennedy.
Fine Gael councillor Jerome Scanlan told festival organisers that he hoped to have a response in respect of funding by the end of June.
Fianna Fail councillor Michael Collins commented, “It’s important to say that we don’t have the back-up of a GMA (General Municipal Allocation), so as not to be fooling anybody.”
