COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

QUESTION NO. 1

QUESTION: Councillor Shane Moynihan

To ask the Chief Executive about the tourism events that will be supported by the County in the Lucan and Palmerstown-Fonthill electoral areas for the year 2020. 

REPLY:

 The South Dublin County Tourism Strategy envisages the development of a campaign of tourism events that increase out of County visitors and reinforce market positioning within the sector. Since 2018 the Council has provided the Tourism Events and Festivals Grant Scheme where funding is available to businesses and community groups across South Dublin County to support key priority areas such as cultural, food, sports and activity based tourism aimed at growing the visitor economy. The aim is to fund innovative events/festivals that will be supported by local businesses and communities and which will add value to our tourism product.

In 2019 the Council received two applications from organisers of events in the Lucan and Palmerstown-Fonthill electoral area. In September the 60th Annual Liffey Descent international canoe marathon race attracted almost 260 out of county and over 110 international visitors to the area. In October the Esker All Female BoxCup event, reported as the largest female only boxing tournament worldwide in 2019, brought 736 out of county and 480 out of country visitors from 19 countries and three continents to the electoral area, bringing an economic benefit to the area and the County as a whole.

The Tourism Events and Festivals Grant Scheme for 2020 was launched in early February, 2020 and seeks applications from interested parties from across the County. The Council has already received a number of additional expressions of interest from organisations who wish to host events in the Lucan and Palmerstown-Fonthill electoral area. Closing date for receipt of applications is 3pm on Friday 24 April, 2020. An information document and application form can be downloaded from the Council’s website at https://www.sdcc.ie/en/services/sport-and-recreation/tourism/