Funding for festivals not for residents of Waterford

At a special meeting of Waterford's Plenary Council on April 23, supplementary funding was granted to three local festivals, while some councillors reluctantly agreed due to deadlines being missed by applicants.

A total budget of €1.6 million had been set aside for festival grants, however, this proposal was for three applicants who missed the deadline. 

The motion passed for the Vitamin Sea Festival, Dungarvan's Celtic Box Cup and Tramore's Christmas Festival to receive supplementary grants to the value of exactly half of what was granted last year. 

"They're important festivals, they probably wouldn't survive without a certain amount of funding," said Council Executive, Richie Walsh. 

Cllr Stephanie Keating, who abstained, found difficulty in supporting it due to the same issue previously arising with residents associations, but they weren't given supplementary funding. "This has nothing to do with the three wonderful festivals," she added.