Local festivals generated €300 million for the Irish economy this year, it emerged today. However it is becoming increasing difficult to recruit volunteers to work at the events, an all-island umbrella body said today.
The issue will be discussed at the annual conference of the Association of Irish Festival Events (Aoife) in Co Galway tomorrow. Aoife chief executive Colm Croffy said: "The costs of the festivals and events season would rise by 60 per cent if it were not for the free time given by the 45,000 volunteers.
"If you had to pay a salary to every person at every barrier, the events would not be able to survive and cover their expenses." Aoife oversees a total of 401 festivals which attracted eight million people in 2007.
The most popular events are the St Patrick's Festival, the Wexford Opera Festival, the Rose of Tralee, Kilkenny Arts Festival and the Galway Arts Festival.
This year's 14th annual conference, which will be addressed by Community Affairs Minister Eamon O Cuiv, will also focus on cultural tourism, sponsorship and marketing.
In 2007, a total of €20 million was invested in the festivals sector by the Irish government and local authorities. Mr Croffy added: "The state gets about 400 per cent return for the funding it puts in."
The festivals cost in the region of €120 million to produce and run and about 70 cent in every euro goes directly into the local community.