“As things stand, for an event of this scale, this spend does not represent value for money”
The sole nationalist councillor in Ards and North Down Borough Council has said DUP councillors were being “dragged kicking and screaming” over a Fleadh Cheoil event in Bangor that “they don’t really want”.
The controversy over a Fleadh fringe event in Bangor has reached boiling point at the local council, as unionists attempt to separate the date of the event from the Ulster Pipe Championships on August 1.
Bitter words were exchanged between the DUP and Alliance, and the council’s sole nationalist representative, during an hour-long acrimonious debate at the Ards and North Down monthly full council meeting on Wednesday (January 28).
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READ MORE: DUP Councillor says Fleadh Cheoil fringe event in Bangor will “create ill feeling”
During the debate the DUP raised four points of order against Alliance and the SDLP, before their proposal was passed on the strength of the combined unionist vote. It returns the proposal to hold the Fleadh event back to committee level “to allow officers to bring back a report setting out whether the fringe event could be held on a different day.”
The DUP are also questioning the proposed maximum budget of £40K for the Fleadh Fringe event, and are speculating it would be cheaper if held on a different day to the Pipe Championship. They say the amount does not give “value for money.”
The SDLP’s Joe Boyle accused certain unionist politicians of using methods of “stop and stall” in order that the Fleadh Fringe event “might go away” and said the council was “embarrassing” itself.
In a recorded vote on the DUP proposal to return it to committee, 23 voted in favour, from the DUP, UUP, and two Unionist independents, to 13 against the proposal, from Alliance, the Greens, the SDLP and one independent. Ards and North Down Borough Council has the smallest representation for nationalist elected representatives in all of Northern Ireland’s 11 councils, with only one SDLP rep out of the 40 councillors. Unionist reps account for just over half the chamber.
Ards North Down Council revealed earlier this month that the Fleadh Fringe event was planned for Holborn Square car park, Bangor on Saturday August 1, the same day as the 73rd Ulster Championships of the Pipe Bands by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association NI, which will be held at Ward Park, Bangor.
A report for the council’s Place and Prosperity Committee stated the local authority would have a budget of £36,700 to spend on the Pipe Bands event, and up to £40,000 for the Fringe Fleadh event, subject to rates setting and procurement.
The TUV lodged a formal equality impact complaint to the council stating it would create conflict. They said the Pipe Championships were “playing second fiddle” to the Fleadh, and repeated an erroneous claim reported in the media that the Fleadh was receiving twice the budget to that of the Pipes.
Belfast will host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture, from Sunday August 2 to Sunday August 9. Qualifying competitors from all over the world will showcase the best of traditional music, song, dance and language in All-Ireland competitions.
With a minimum of 700,000 visitors from across the world, it is anticipated to be the biggest cultural event ever held in Belfast. Tourism NI estimates the 2026 Fleadh will bring £60 million into the Northern Ireland economy.
Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the host branch for Fleadh Belfast, and was a bid partner with Belfast City Council. Ards CCE will mark their 50th anniversary this year.
Two weeks ago, at the meeting of the council’s Place and Prosperity Committee, the chamber overwhelmingly approved the holding of both events. They approved the proposed Fringe Fleadh event at a budget of £40,000, subject to the rates setting process and a successful procurement exercise, and the hosting of the Ulster Championship Pipe Band event at Ward Park, Bangor with a budget of £36,700.
Only one councillor objected, Newtownards DUP Councillor Colin Kennedy, who voted against the grain of his party. He said the Fleadh event being held this summer in Bangor would “create ill feeling” and added the people of Ards and North Down were being “bounced into” paying up to £40,000 to hold the event.
At the full council meeting on Wednesday, DUP Alderman Stephen McIlveen proposed an amendment to the committee decision, to return it back to the committee “for further consideration and for officers to provide a supplementary report to look at other ways the Fleadh Fringe event could be held, what the financial operational implications would be of each option, and how (to) ensure proper member oversight and value-for-money going forward.”
Alderman McIlveen said: “I want to be clear at the outset that this request is not an objection to the Fleadh itself or indeed to a fringe event. The Fleadh is a well-established cultural event and I recognise the potential value it brings in terms of visitors and economic activity for our borough. That’s not in dispute.
“However the issue before us today is one of process, timing and governance, and on those grounds I am asking for a deferral to the committee for a short report on alternative options. Members will be aware that Bangor is already scheduled to host the Ulster Pipe Championships on the same day.
“This is a major event in its own right, one that requires significant officer involvement and council resources to be delivered safely and successfully. What concerns me is that members have not been given the opportunity to properly consider the implications of adding a Fleadh Fringe event on the same day, particularly when there has been limited consultation with elected members prior to this proposal coming forward.”
He added: “There are also legitimate concerns around cost and capacity. The officers are already fully committed to delivering the Pipe Band Championships, we need clarity on what additional staffing, operational costs and external support will be required to run a fringe event alongside it.
“From what I can ascertain this is the reason why ratepayers are being asked to provide an additional £40,000, that we don’t have the staff to cover it. Based on my reading of the report, it would appear that if the event were held on a different day that officers would have the capacity to support this fringe event, and therefore it would not attract this level of cost.
“As things stand, for an event of this scale, this spend does not represent value for money.”
Alliance Alderman Martin McRandal said: “Due process is being followed. We have tasked our Tourism officers with identifying large events to attract to the borough. And what they have done is in line with our borough events strategic direction.
“Officers have identified the opportunity, done the ground work, and brought to committee a solid and suitably costed recommendation at the appropriate time. That is entirely consistent with due process.”
He added: “It is said there is conflict between the two events on the same day. There is no conflict, in fact it is quite the opposite, the organisations involved are publicly supportive of each other’s events, and are keen to collaborate with each other.
“It is said we should look at the possibility of alternative dates for the Fringe Fleadh. The date that has been selected is important, it is the eve of the All Ireland Fleadh beginning in Belfast.
“By holding our event the day before the Fleadh begins, we have an opportunity to attract visitors to stay in Bangor or other parts of the borough, and to travel in and out of Belfast by public transport.”
He said: “It will take time to procure an events manager, to source and book musicians. The committee has already made a decision on this, sending it back to committee now sends out a negative message from us.”
SDLP Councillor Joe Boyle said the controversy and media reports surrounding the debate on the Fleadh Fringe was “embarrassing for the council”.
He said in reference to councillors on the unionist side of the chamber: “There (are people who) are uneasy with the Fringe event from Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann taking place in Bangor. Yet everyone that spoke over there tonight used an opening fake line that they “welcome it.” I don’t believe they welcome it.”
He said councillors were being “dragged kicking and screaming on an event they don’t really want” and were “blaming directors and staff” at the council.
He added: “What you want is to stop and stall, (to make it) splutter along, in the hope that it might go away, in the hope we mightn’t get the timelines, in the hope we might be further embarrassed by not being able to host it. This is an absolute, total shame and disgrace tonight.”
After the DUP raised a point of order with him on his comments, Councillor Boyle said: “If it has upset that party, I would apologise to that party, but my intention was not to upset that party. It was to give my viewpoint as to what I believe they were really thinking. If that is not what they are thinking, I am big enough to apologise.”
Alliance Councillor Chris McCracken said the DUP had been “muttering about their objections to the Fleadh for some weeks.” He added: “It is not entirely surprising they have brought this before us tonight. Few will unfortunately believe the explanation that has been given.” The DUP again raised a point of order on these comments.
The matter will be raised again at the council’s February Place and Prosperity Committee meeting, to be held next week.
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