An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D launches €2 million IPB Gathering Ireland Fund
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D launches €2 million IPB Gathering Ireland Fund
Kilkenny County Council is delighted to confirm details of a combined IPB Insurance/Gathering Ireland Fund of €2 million nationally, to support flagship county and local/community Gathering events and activities across every city and county in Ireland during 2013, as announced by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, on the 25th October 2012.
The core objective of the Gathering Ireland initiative is to deliver an additional 325,000 visitors to Ireland in 2013, with communities throughout Ireland being encouraged to organise events/activities that have the capacity to directly attract more overseas visitors in 2013.
The Gathering Ireland 2013 is a people’s project. It’s all about you, your family, your neighbours, your sports club, your school, your college - in fact, whatever community or group you belong to – planning special events that will highlight what is great about that community and Ireland as a whole. There are so many ways to get involved; whether it is organising family or clan gatherings; school or work reunions; sports competitions; community celebrations or business events - it’s about making sure everyone tells their family, friends and connections that 2013 is the perfect time to come to Ireland to join in celebrating the best of what Ireland has to offer.
The €2m in additional Gathering funding now being made available is to allow local authorities to finance some 700 new events around the country and there are two key components to the IPB Insurance/Gathering Ireland Fund as follows:
1. IPB Insurance Fund for Flagship City and County Gathering Events
IPB Insurance which provides insurance to city and county councils has allocated €1m of the available fund to support flagship Gathering events and activities in every city and county. The fund will be distributed on a weighted basis across the 34 city and county councils and will not be an open public application process, but rather will be done on the basis of recommended proposals for no more than 3 designated Gathering events in accordance with the agreed criteria, being submitted by each city/county council to IPB for review. A flagship event receiving IPB Gathering funding must bring in a minimum of 200 incremental additional overseas visitors.
2. The Gathering Local and Community Event Fund
The other €1m in matching funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport, will provide financial assistance for smaller local and community events in every city and county with the funding application process for Kilkenny events being managed by Kilkenny County Council. The fund will provide support grants ranging from €500 to €2,500 for individual Gathering events and activities throughout Kilkenny and will fill a key gap by supporting events and activities that have the capacity to directly attract overseas visitors and will complement existing funding sources for Regional Events and festivals.
Only completed submissions received via the approved application form will be considered. The completed application form must be sent to:
Aisling Hayes,
Kilkenny County Council,
County Hall,
John St,
Kilkenny,
Ireland
It is important to note that in advance of submitting applications that Gathering events/activities need to be uploaded on the website: www.thegatheringireland.com
The Gathering Ireland Local Community Fund Application Form and Guidelines are now available to download below and copies of the Guidelines and Application Form will also be available on request at the following locations:-
- Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John St, Kilkenny
Completed applications must be received by the above address, not later than 4.45pm on Friday, November 30th, 2012.
Downloads:
Contact Details
- Email: aisling.hayes@kilkennycoco.ie
- Phone: +353 (0) 56 779 4106