Music
27 May 03

Lisdoonvarna: initial license application rejected

Clare County Council announced this afternoon that they've rejected a license application for the Lisdoonvarna festival which was due to take place in the Clare town on Saturday June 28. There's a strong possibility, though, that the decision will be appealed by Aiken Promotions who tell hotpress.com that they're studying the decision and will be responding tomorrow morning.

In an official statement, the Council's Planning Department says: "While appreciating the social, cultural and economic elements attached to a major event such as this, the Council is not satisfied that, on the basis of the application as submitted, that an event of this nature and scale could be adequately and safely undertaken."
The council expressed concerns about: "The unsuitability of the road network serving the area in terms of capacity, width and alignment to cater safely for the significant increase in traffic that would be generated" - this despite the fact that the area regularly caters for large numbers of tourists, and coped with Lisdoonvarna Festivals over 20 years ago!

According to the Council, "The application generated a considerable level of interest with some 52 submissions – one containing 248 signatures – being lodged by members of local communities in relation to the event."
Despite acknowledging that Aiken have "considerable experience in the successful staging of major events", they concluded by saying that: "The application for a license must be assessed in the context of the particular site, general location and the issues that would impact on the surrounding area."

As well as disappointing 25,000 fans who were planning to travel to Lisdoon on June 28 to see headliner Christy Moore, the cancellation of the event would deprive the area of an estimated € 3,000,000 in revenue.

That's according to local organiser Jim Shannon who states: "Bringing back Lisdoonvarna after 20 years will be a wonderful musical occasion but it will also bring a major financial boost for the whole area of North Clare at a time when tourism needs all the help it can get."