Organisers of the Rose of Tralee Festival in Kerry are disappointed with the Minister for Tourism, Dr McDaid, over lack of funding for the event.
Now in its 43rd year, the Rose of Tralee Festival received no funding from Bord Failte this year.
The chief executive, Ms Noreen Cassidy, has lodged a query under the Freedom of Information Act to ascertain which festivals are supported by Bord Failte and which have the support of the Minister for Tourism.
The Rose committee is particularly interested to see if Donegal festivals and, in particular, the Mary of Dungloe Festival, which bears some similarity to the Rose of Tralee, get any special support.
"We want to know just what we have to do in order to qualify for Government funding," Ms Cassidy said.
She is "extremely disappointed" with Mr McDaid who has not backed the festival's attempts to secure funding.
"I feel very strongly about the Minister's stance on the Rose of Tralee. We are a mature festival and the Minister is telling us he wants to promote new festivals.
"Our argument is mature festivals need investment as they are easier to grow," Ms Cassidy said.
The five-day festival, which starts on Friday with 28 roses, costs more than £1 million to run. But it is estimated to bring in around £20 million to Tralee.
A spokesperson for the Department of Tourism said the Department had no direct funding mechanism. Mature festivals should be self-financing, the spokesperson said. The Rose of Tralee was supported by general Bord Failte marketing, as were other festivals the spokesperson said.
Last year the festival got £10,000 towards its award winning website from Bord Failte. Through the Millennium Committee it received £25,000 in 2000 and £50,000 in 1999.