Local Events in County Carlow Urged to Apply For Community Tourism Grants

Local Events in County Carlow Urged to Apply For Community Tourism Grants

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Application Process for 2016 Funding Opens For Community Tourism Initiative for the Diaspora

Carlow County Council on 15th February, 2016 announced that applications for funding are now being sought under the Community Tourism Initiative for the Diaspora.  The initiative, launched in 2014, builds on the community involvement legacy of The Gathering 2013 and is a joint partnership between Carlow County Council, IPB Insurance and Fáilte Ireland.

Now in its third year, the scheme provides a national fund of €1m to support local community-based events and festivals each year. Last year, the 15 local events were supported in County Carlow, attracting up to 850 visitors from overseas. The festivals funded last year included:

  • Carlow’s 3rd International Bridge Congress
  • Carlow International Karate Competition
  • Elvis Presley Celebrations Hacketstown
  • The Irish Open 2015 Ballroom, Latin & Hip Hop Competition
  • Wild Food Summer School - Carlow
  • Barrow River Arts Festival

Administered locally by Carlow County Council, the application process for 2016 is now open and will close on 11th March, 2016. Interested parties are advised to contact Anna Byrne on 059 9129785  abyrne@carlowcoco.ie  to apply.    

Announcing this year’s funding, Kathleen Holohan, Chief Executive, Carlow County Council emphasised:

“We all witnessed the benefits from The Gathering and this scheme gives us an opportunity to build on its legacy. The Community Tourism Initiative allows us to sustain many of the grass roots networks which sprang to life during The Gathering in County Carlow and sustain an infrastructure of events and relationships which will have long term tourism and social benefits for this region for many years to come.

“For that reason, I would urge anyone out there with a good idea or interesting event, which would help us to reach out to the diaspora, to get in touch with us and make an application”

Local authorities throughout the country are now accepting applications in order to determine those local events with the best potential to have the impact and long-term potential to make a difference.  The initiative is being administered at local level with the grant applications and awards being decided in accordance with agreed national criteria.

To download an application form, please click here