€5m Ennis Trad Festival gets go-ahead

Ennis Chamber, local hoteliers and publicans have combined to ensure that the Ennis Trad Festival, which had been not expected to go ahead, will now take place. A decision had been taken by the festival committee to postpone this year’s festival due to a lack of sufficient funding to run it.

However, in a manner similar to Kilkee business people ensuring that the Cois Fharraige festival went ahead, Ennis business people have combined to provide the necessary finance for the festival in the county capital. Also at this week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, the members agreed to increase the council’s contribution to the festival from €4,000 to over €7,000.
The festival is believed to be worth in the region of €5 m to the local economy. The town will now host hundreds of musicians, singers, dancers and revellers who are due to swarm in to the county for the 16th annual Ennis Trad Festival from November 5 to 9. The festival will be officially launched on Thursday, November 5 by Áine Hensey, former Clare FM traditional music presenter who currently works as presenter with RTÉ.
The opening festival concert will feature Manchester-born banjo player Angelina Carberry with her family and Paul Meehan. At the Racket, Lunasa, Tony McMahon and Frankie Gavin will be among the musicians and acts playing in Ennis during the festival.
A detailed schedule of events is available on www.ennistradfestival.com.