Kilkenny City Night Time Economy - New NTE Festivals Investment Scheme 2026

Guidelines for Applicants 

Festivals commencing 23rd March 2026 to 9th November 2026

Band A – >2,000 attendees

         Band B – >1,000 attendees

          Band C - > 250 attendees and <1,000 attendees

Opening Date: Friday, 30th January 2026

Closing Date:  Monday 23rd February 2026

Return completed expressions of interest to:

ntefund@kilkennycoco.ie

Expression of Interest form can be found here.

Queries to Aileen McGrath, Head of Enterprise, Kilkenny County Council     

Telephone:  056 7752662 or Email: ntefund@kilkennycoco.ie

An independent assessment panel will award funding on a competitive basis; therefore, all applications submitted must be submitted in advance of the deadline and accompanied by comprehensive supporting information. If you do not provide the relevant documentation we will consider your application ineligible.

Kilkenny County Council is seeking proposals from local businesses, community groups, event organisers, collaborators and individuals to develop projects that will support the growth and diversity of the night time economy in Kilkenny City. This fund will support applicants who wish to try new festivals /larger scale events at existing festivals that can support the diversification of Kilkenny’s night time economy. Events should aim to attract additional visitors to Kilkenny.

This scheme will support a total of three new festivals or events of scale which will take place between 23rd March 2026 and 9th November 2026

Note: the proposals must be new, additional and bring innovation to the existing offering in Kilkenny City.

Overview:

The Night Time Economy refers to the diverse social, cultural and economic activity occurring during specified evening and night time hours. It balances the needs of the inter related communities that co-exist to bring it to life and create a special sense of shared place Kilkenny City has been selected as one of nine pilot towns and cities that has prepared an action plan setting out a range of interventions to support the coordinated development of our night time economy. A key action under the Kilkenny City Night Time Economy Action Plan is the establishment of a grant funding scheme to support night time activities and events. The purpose of this funding scheme is to encourage collaboration and facilitate a greater variety of offerings and experiences at night for residents, workers, and visitors.

Features of the scheme:

• The fund is:
  • One event aimed at attracting and facilitating in excess of 2000 attendees and will be awarded €7,500
  • One event aimed at attracting and facilitating in excess of 1000 attendees and will be awarded €5,000
  • One event aimed at attracting and facilitating in excess of 250 attendees and less than 1000 attendees and will be awarded €2500

Awards will be subject to receipt of suitable applications in each category.

It may not be possible to offer funding to all applicants and it may also not be possible to offer the full amount requested to any individual applicant.

• The proposed event/initiative can take place on any day of the week but must take place between March 23rd 2026 and 9th November 2026 and must not conflict with a known existing festival and event scheduled to tale place in Kilkenny City in 2026.
• Events which can be funded include but not limited to; 3rd party to the applications cost including - Production costs, performer costs, marketing costs, venue fees. Any regulatory requirements to stage the events cannot be funded.
• Working with new partners is encouraged to attract new audiences and inspire new uses of existing spaces in the community for late night artists and cultural communities.
• Please note that a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 30% of funding awarded must be utilised for marketing/promotion
• Grant payments will be made retrospectively post event on the basis of paid invoices and proof of payment from your bank account and only for the proposed expenditure submitted on the original application form. Cash payments to suppliers are not permitted to be claimed under this scheme.
• All successful Grantees are also required to carry out a participant/ visitor survey.

This data will help Kilkenny County Council evaluate the success of the pilot and will assist in gaining valuable insights into who is attending the late night events, the number of attendees and their overall experience of the events/initiative.

• All successful Grantees will be required to fill out an evaluation questionnaire in relation to this scheme when drawing down funds. This will allow the Kilkenny County Council to evaluate the effectiveness of the funding and also to gain learnings from the pilot.

• Programmes must be advertised locally through various channels to ensure maximum visibility. Kilkenny County Council and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport’s support must be acknowledged in public advertising. Logos will be provided to successful applicants

Timeline of the scheme:

This call will open on Friday 30th of January 2026 and the closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 23rd of February 2026.

Successful applicants will be notified within four weeks of the closing date. All funds must be drawn down within two weeks of the event completion.

Who can apply?

Funding is being awarded under distinct categories. You must apply for the category that is most relevant to your proposal

• Band A – >2,000 attendees
• Band B – >1,000 attendees
• Band C - >250 attendees <1,000 attendees

 Eligible Funding:

• Venue hire (in instances where the applicant doesn’t have the use or ownership of their own venue)
• Artist’s, performers, guides fees/costs etc. (artists/performers must be paid)
• Security Costs
• Event insurance
• Set up/staging costs
• AV Costs and equipment hire
• Photography, Marketing and Advertising Costs
• Costs related to carrying out a visitor survey/exhibition survey (See Appendix B Form)

Ineligible funding:

• Cost incurred before the awarding of the grant
• Capital or construction costs
• purchase of equipment/materials
• purchase of musical instruments
• local authority rates
• staff costs or additional staffing costs for later openings
• Accommodation
• legal and accountancy fees
• annual insurance costs (with the exception of per event insurance)
• food and beverages

Amount of Grant Available

The scheme will provide 100% of funding for the event(s) or initiative. The minimum grant award is €2,500 and the maximum grant award is €7,500

How will the decision on funding be made?

Grant applications will be assessed using the following criteria:

Funding Conditions:

1. Grant payments will be made on the basis of paid invoices paid and proof of payment from your bank account and only for the proposed expenditure submitted on the original application form. Cash payments to suppliers are not permitted to be claimed under this scheme.
2. Only one application for this Scheme per individual/venue/business will be considered and the event must take place in Kilkenny City
3. Grant funding should not be used as top-up or substitute funding for existing events. Groups & Organisations already in receipt of funding from Kilkenny County Council or other funding agencies will need to declare this and demonstrate that the activity proposed under this scheme is separate and distinct. Proposals that include activities that have already started or are completed outside of the timeframes specified are not eligible for funding.
4. Please note your event cannot commence until you have been notified as to whether you are successful. This should be factored into the timeline for your event(s). Kilkenny County Council will not retrospectively fund and take no responsibility for proposed projects that have not been awarded funding by due process.
5. The grant award must be drawn down no later than two weeks after the event has completed. The funding will only be paid to the applicant body (not a sub-contractor(s) of the applicant)
6. Where a grant is allocated for a specific event / project Kilkenny County Council will not be responsible for the insurance of that event / project. The organisers must ensure that adequate insurance is in place prior to the commencement of any event / project.
7. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all permissions, approvals, licences or consents needed for your project are secured before the event (s) takes place.
8. If your application is successful, evidence of appropriate public liability must be provided. Organisers will also be asked to indemnify Kilkenny County Council on their public liability insurance.
9. If applicants intend to work with children and young people, evidence will be requested if successful of having an up to date child protection policy or the child protection policy of your partner organisation.
10. If the event or project is altered, postponed or cancelled – in whole or in part – the Kilkenny County Councils Night Time Economy Advisor, Conor Sweeney, must be contacted in order to discuss the matter.
11. Kilkenny County Council and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport must be acknowledged on all publicity, press and marketing material, websites and social media outlets produced in connection with the undertaking or event. Logos will be sent to all successful applicants
12. Copies of all such material produced must be sent to the Night Time Economy Advisor in advance of the event and included as part of the Evaluation Report.
13. Selection of projects/events will be made through the appointment of an independent assessment panel and scored on the criteria outlined in the guidance note

Appeals:

An appeal may be made by an applicant to tim.butler@kilkennycoco.ie  if they are not satisfied with the outcome of their application. An appeal must be made within 5 working days of the date of the decision letter/email. The appeal will be reviewed independently and on completion of the review, a decision will issue to the applicant.

Payment Conditions:

Successful applicants will receive a Letter of Offer along with an acceptance slip.  This will form the contract between Kilkenny County Council and the organiser/lead applicant and will detail all conditions and requirements which will include all health and safety requirements by you if appropriate, guidance on GDPR imagery that identifies a person in your images and correct consent forms returned.  Full details of all conditions will be emailed to successful applicants.

In order to receive payment, the successful applicant must provide the following:

• A completed Kilkenny County Council “supplier set up form” with tax registration certification and copy of your bank statement header.
• Evidence that project/initiative/event has taken place (e.g. photographic evidence, MAX 5, high quality jpeg images must be supplied, copies of press features and evidence that on ALL publicity material about your project acknowledge Kilkenny County Council and Department of Culture, Communications and Sport with the logos clearly visible, appear and are acknowledged on all print materials, interviews, films produced and social media postings – (Logos will be supplied to you if successful).
• Grant payments will be made on the basis of paid invoices paid and proof of payment from your bank account and only for the proposed expenditure submitted on the original application form. Cash payments to suppliers are not permitted to be claimed under this scheme.
• Payment will be made by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) only.
• Failure to return the required report and related receipts will forfeit the grant.