Tourism

Local Festival & Event Fund 2025

Criteria & Guidance for Applicants

The role of Cork County Council

Cork County Council continues to be a leader in the development of Cork’s tourism product and in marketing Cork abroad as a must-see visitor destination as well as being a significant financial contributor to many festivals and events held throughout Cork County each year. The significant role which Local Authorities play in tourism is now strongly recognised in National, Regional and Local Policy.

Festivals and events deliver a range of economic, social, and cultural benefits. They entertain, they celebrate our communities, and they showcase our villages and towns and are often an expression of identity and place. They help to stimulate local economic activity and enhance the visitor experience. Cork County Council will continue to promote and support festivals throughout the County.

What is the local festival & event fund?

Previously known as the ‘Local Festival Fund’, this programme has undergone enhancements to better address the evolving needs of festivals and events across Cork County.

Intended at offering more than just financial assistance for festivals and events, it serves as a holistic development program that fosters the growth and sustainability of festivals. This redevelopment reflects Cork County Council’s recognition of the importance of supporting diverse and vibrant events while equipping organisers with the resources to extend the tourism season and build long-term sustainability.

With increased funding and a broader scope, the programme now includes mechanisms to support a wide range of events, including sporting events. It also offers an optional supplementary grant for initiatives that prioritise sustainability, empowering organisers to adopt environmentally responsible practices.

This enhanced initiative is designed to help festivals/events diversify their offerings, attract wider audiences, and ensure their success into the future.

What are the qualifying conditions & minimum eligibility thresholds?

The festival/event must take place within the geographic area of Cork County.
The festival/event should place significant emphasis on attracting domestic visitors.
The festival/event must generate a minimum of 150 visitor bed nights in paid accommodation.
The project should have a minimum expenditure of €7,500.
The festival/event programme must include high-quality content, outlining planned events, location and event details.

How much funding is available under this fund?

The maximum grant allocation to a festival/event is €6,000.

What are the evaluation criteria (total marks 100)?

Festival/Event Programme (30 Marks)

The festival/event programme must include high-quality content. This is the festival/event's ability to attract visitors, contribute to extending the tourism season, and grow visitor numbers to the host area, dispersing tourists outside of the core location.

Marketing, Digital & Collaboration (30 Marks)

How will the festival/event be marketed to generate interest and attract tourists? We will evaluate how the festival/event will be presented online and through digital marketing channels, including the creation and sharing of motivating digital content. Additionally, the extent to which the festival/event collaborates with the local community and other organisations/partners/networks to maximise the local and visitor potential of the festival/event will be evaluated.

Delivery Team Capacity & Budget (20 Marks)

The extent to which the festival/event demonstrates organisational capacity to deliver the festival/event, along with the strength of the budget proposal, will be assessed. The experience and ability of the organisers will be considered, and the festival/event’s financial sustainability will also be examined.

Visitor Experience Fit (10 Marks)

The extent to which festivals/events add to the visitor experience of will be evaluated. In this section, applicants should highlight the festival/event’s capacity to attract domestic tourism, extend the tourism season and highlight the local features and synergies of the relevant Failte Ireland programme area.

The Wild Atlantic Way – Ireland’s first long-distance touring route, stretching along the Atlantic coast from Donegal to West Cork. The overall aim of the project is to develop a route that will achieve greater visibility for the west coast of Ireland in overseas tourist markets.
For more information visit: Wild Atlantic Way
Ireland’s Ancient East – The overall aim is to attract visitors to the East and South of Ireland. It will bring international attention to the vast cultural and heritage attractions located here. Designed primarily to appeal to the Great Escaper and Culturally Curious market segments, the brand is all about history, heritage, and storytelling.
For more information visit: Ireland's Ancient East
Ireland's Hidden Heartlands - There's an infinite variety of things to do for all ages along the length of the River Shannon and the Beara Breifne Way. Fáilte Ireland has developed a clearly defined programme for Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, a brand centred around rural communities and their lifestyles, as well as the many spaces for adventure and relaxation in this region.
For more information visit: Ireland's Hidden Heartlands

Commitment to Sustainable Practices (10 Marks)

Cork County Council is firmly committed to tackling climate change, as outlined in the Cork County Council Climate Adaptation Strategy. We encourage festivals/events to consider the environmental impact of their activities and demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices. Applicants will be asked to outline the steps they will take to green their festival/event, focusing on at least two the following five areas:

Minimising waste and increasing the reuse of materials.
Waste segregation and recycling.
Litter management.
Reducing water and energy consumption.
Communicating and promoting good environmental practices to attendees.

Optional additional grant aplication to support sustainable initiatives

An optional additional grant application is available to assist with the cost of implementing sustainable initiatives for your festival/event. This funding is designed to support efforts to minimise environmental impact and promote sustainable practices. A maximum grant of €1,500 is available under this fund to encourage festivals/events to adopt measures such as reducing waste, conserving resources, and promoting eco-friendly practices. This initiative reflects Cork County Council’s commitment to fostering sustainability within the festivals/events sector.

Who can apply?

Groups, companies, and individuals who have a business address and a current Tax Clearance Access Number in the Republic of Ireland.

Ineligible festivals/events

The following festivals and events are not eligible for funding:

Purely commercial events
Events with limited domestic tourism appeal
Agricultural shows and countryside fairs with limited tourism appeal.
Spectator-based sporting events with limited tourism appeal.
Circuses and carnivals.
Christmas fairs and markets, including Christmas lighting events.
St. Patricks Day festivals

Eligible expenses

The following costs are eligible expenses under this fund:

Programme content and Event Production – activities and events included in the festival programme
Marketing – local and national marketing and promotional activity including advertising, online marketing and public relations costs.
Training and Development – costs associated with training courses, festival branding, and feasibility studies.

Ineligible expenses

Expenses not covered by the fund include:

The cost of items for resale.
Unpaid expenditure.
Fines, penalty payments, legal costs, audit fees, financial consultancy fees, insurance fees, licensing.
Un-vouched expenditure.
Fixed structures, construction, or renovation costs.

Submission deadline

The fund will open for applications at 9.00am on Friday, 13 December, and the closing date for submissions is Monday, 20th January 2025, at 5.00pm.

Queries

For any queries, please contact localfestivalfund@corkcoco.ie.

Note: There is no guarantee of funding for applications that achieve the minimum eligibility requirements. The fund is limited, and all eligible applications will be evaluated on a competitive basis against the criteria set out.