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A MUSIC FESTIVAL planned to mark the 775th anniversary of Ennis has been cancelled after residents voiced concerns over anti-social behaviour.
The organisers of INISFest, Impressario Events, met with residents on three occasions in the last few weeks, most recently on Friday.
After negotiations failed, the decision was made to scrap the event.
Following a meeting on 30 March, organisers agreed to look into issues such as security, parking, and increased Garda presence to prevent loitering and anti-social behaviour.
The Clare Champion quotes one resident as saying holding the event was “not fair” on local people. She stated: “I don’t know how you’re going to get rid of 3,000 people at 11pm. It’s really unfair on the families living there and the people in [Ennis] hospital.”
Another resident added:
We want to be sure that all the people that have no accommodation, that have nowhere to go, that are sleeping in their cars, puking over our walls and peeing in our gardens are going to be monitored.
A spokesperson for Impresario Events said the organisation is “disappointed that such a positive event for the town of Ennis is not going ahead at this time”. However, they said they “look forward to working with all interests to stage such an event in the future”.
“Impresario Events would like to thank An Garda Síochána, Clare County Council, the Vintners Federation of Ireland, HSE, St Joseph’s Hospital, Clare County Fire and Rescue, Clare Civil Defence and the wider community for their support for this event,” the spokesperson added.
Organisers claimed the festival was worth more than €1.5 million to the local economy. All ticket holders will be refunded.
Line-up
The festival was due to be held in Tim Smythe Park from 26-28 June. Delorentos, Damien Dempsey, Finbar Furey, Nathan Carter and Mundy were among those lined up to perform.
Speaking at its launch back in February, Mayor of Ennis, Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn, said the festival would “deliver huge benefits for the local economy and the tourist sector”.
“I have heard that some Clare people abroad are planning to return home for the weekend which underlines the sense of community that this event will also bring,” he added.
Flynn did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.
Hat tip to Páraic McMahon
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Not a bad line up at all for a small local festival. Shame.
What country is that?
Bodes well for the Fleadh in 2016.
@Przemek Yevtushenkov:
Отвали назад к вашей собственной стране тогда!
My comment looks pointless now. Either he has taken my advice or his post has been removed@
Absolute madness to turn away an event like this and looking at the lineup for the weekend I don’t think you’d be getting a mad crowd at it….Nathan Carter,Fureys etc.
Looks like it will go ahead in West Clare. They are calling it “West Fest”. Small group of petty people cost town of Ennis a large sum of money.
Lets hope the money stays in west Clare and that not a penny goes to Ennis!
I suppose the Ennis economic recovery must be roaring ahead, if the local curtain twitchers can turn an event like this down. Sure why we’re at it ,we might as well cancel the Fleadh, Electric Picnic and anything else that might involve fun coupled with consumption of alcohol.
Sounds to me like some residents were hoping for a pay off and had their bluff called.
There is more to that statement than has been printed yet.
Slane can handle 80,000 people but Ennis can’t handle 3000. Bit sad really.
This is a sad state of affairs.
Reeks of down with that sort of thing!
You’d swear it’s a rave with Dave Clarke and Carl Cox fed. Typical sh*t with Ireland though, we really are a joke at times.
If only the legend that is Carl Cox would come back to Ireland, it’s being too long. Instead we get ‘EDM’ clowns like Aviici and Swedish House Mafia.
Couldn’t agree more, seen him in Sydney a couple of years ago, unreal!
Why doesn’t he ever play here?
I do not think Carl Cox is as good as Judge Jules or Brandon Block?
They must start closing all the pubs in Ennis if they are worried over people puking and urinating on the streets.
Jayzuz chrisht you can’t bay doon dat round here yooll attract guriers nd the townies. What a waste. the festival really would’ve got Ennis on the map and helped the town out with an injection of that tourism money. Miserable hags, I’m sure there’s a lot of sickened people from Ennis reading this.
Well done people of Ennis. I feel like driving over there now specifically to pee in someone’s garden. Small-minded dopes
I’m from ennis and was looking forward to this festival. It’s a small number of resident (as in 7 or 8) and a few businesses near by objecting to this. The rest of the town were welcoming this festival with open arms. Don’t be painting us with all the one brush. There’s many locals trying to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
Winge winge rabble rabble.
NIMBY – Not In My Back Yard
That’s exactly what an old fella I carpool with said haha
This kinda stuff happens in Ennis every weekend, a music festival would just increase the incidences slightly.
To be fair the residents are probably correct. It’s very hard to have an event in Ireland that isn’t overrun by binge drinking tw@ts who rather than go home after a good day/night have to smash up the local area or start unnecessary fights. Yes it’s a minority but it definitely happens more in Ireland than other developed countries.
Glad you said it. The only one so far.
Oh come off it, how could you possibly even imagine that the likes of Nathan Carter would attract a crowd like that? The most outrageous thing that happens at his shows is some 80 year old woman falling over a few too many sherries.
I think the concern from the residents about this event is completely without basis and seems to be a knee jerk reaction to hearing the word “festival”. It’s not like Swedish House Mafia are showing up to play, the acts lined up are as safe as houses and generally wouldn’t attract an unsavory element.
Sounded a little too close to INcestFEST anyways
What’s so special about the 775th Anniversary???
It means you are no longer 774.
They are lucky,it sounds awfully boring
Ennis is like the wild west on a normal weekend.
Can’t imagine what it would be like with an extra 3,000 alcoholic lunatic Paddies on the streets.
Puking, vomiting, fighting, drinking, shouting, roaring, urinating, fornicating, prevaricating, belligerating,
eating chips.
Common sense to shut it down.
Finbar Furey?
‘When you were shweeeeeeeeeeet 16′
F**k me.
Is he still alive?
This is insane ,how can 7to 8 residents object to what is a wonderful opportunity for the majority of people in Ennis .If they are worried about someone peeing or puking in there property surly their property can be sealed off with a few wall boards to prevent access .This is really cutting off their nose to spite their face ,and it’s only for a couple of days .
There is more to this story than has been printed by the media. Eight individuals protested against this but said they would remove their protests if given compensation. They threatened to challenge the alcohol license unless their demands were met. Hopefully the full story and the names of those involved will make it to the media soon enough.
Eating chips???? Out of a bag???? In the middle of the street???? God have mercy on us all!!!!!!! I was actually thinking of going home from London for this festival! shame.. damn shame! I also think earlier comment rings through…. residents looking for a bit of compo had their bluff called!
If I lived in ennis wouldn’t want this festival either, used to live near croker,bleeding disaster when big game or concert on
Brilliant . . .
If anyone’s looking for an alternative they can google Cowboys and Heroes
Ennis. A town for LOCAL people.
Garth brooks 2.0
Moaning Mabels
Projectile vomiting and pants wetting / soiling as well, what a generation we have when they take immodium before taking these drugs, drink and then end up fighting?
Sheela na gigs are cancelled now as well lol.
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