Bord Fáilte yesterday awarded significant grants to sporting and cultural events around the country, including two major ones taking place this summer in the Kerry South constituency of the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue.
The Killarney Summerfest will receive €350,000, while the Ladies Irish Golf Open, which is taking place in Killarney again this year, will be supported by a €307,340 grant.
Last night, Bord Fáilte insisted all of the decisions were taken without any input from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, according to strictly defined published rules. Organisations are required to apply for support.
The allocation to the summerfest is down slightly on last year, when it received €486,800. A Bord Fáilte spokesman said it had been recognised then the event would take some time "to become self-sustaining".
"This will be a difficult and challenging year for Killarney in the international tourism market due to the global political uncertainty and its impact on the US market," he told The Irish Times.
Bord Fáilte chooses events for support on the basis of the numbers of tourists they can bring to an area, their importance for a particular region and the amount of international press coverage they can attract.
Mr O'Donoghue said he was "delighted" to announce the grants.
"The provision of funding for festival and cultural events permits us to develop and expand their role as an attraction for international tourists, allowing visitors to experience what we have to offer while, at the same time, affording an opportunity for local people to enjoy the benefits."
BORD FAILTE GRANTS/Where they went:
ARTS FESTIVALS: Earagail Arts Festival, Co Donegal 18,000; JFK Dunbrody Festivals, Co Wexford €10,000; Castlebar International
4-Days' Walks, Co Mayo €6,000; Boyle Arts Festival, Co Roscommon 9,200; Galway Arts Festival, Galway 13,778; Irish Coffee Festival, Foynes, Co Limerick €5,500; Killarney Summerfest, Co Kerry 350,000; Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, Co Clare €10,000; Glór Summer Music Festival, Ennis, Co Clare 18,500; Fleadh Cheoil Chiarraí, Kenmare, Co Kerry €8,299; Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan, Skibbereen, Co Cork 8,000 SPORTING EVENTS: AIB Seniors Irish Open, Adare Manor 232,320; Ireland Windsurfing Triple Crown 16,940; Ladies Irish Open, Killarney 307,340; UIM F1 Powerboat Grand Prix of Ireland 37,510; Nissan Irish Open 881,200; Smurfit European Open 471,109; European Dragon Championships (Sailing) 54,450; 1720 European Championships (Sailing) €25,410; ITU International Triathlon €36,300; ITU World Cup Triathlon 90,750; World Vintage Rugby Carnival 37,510.
