Council allocates €12k to boost Longford Summer Festival coffers

The announcement was made at last week's meeting of the local authority and ahead of the four day event's long awaited return next Thursday.

Fianna Fáil's Seamus Butler and Fine Gael Cllr Peggy Nolan wasted little time in hailing the news.

“Longford needs the Festival and it's great to see such a great voluntary effort getting behind it,” said Cllr Nolan.

Her party colleague, Cllr Gerry Hagan said the investment was reflective of just how important the council placed the festival as an economic money spinner for the town and local economy.

As such, he requested that all publicity linked to the festival carry the name of Longford County Council.

“It's something we, as local elected representatives, are very serious about in the promotion of the county and particularly the town itself,” he said.

As revealed two weeks earlier, Longford Summer Festival is set for a sensational return after a three year Covid induced absence.

The festival returned to the streets of Longford town in 2017 and soon expanded to a memorable nine day festival in 2019.

The event will open on Thursday, July 13 with Johnny Brady, with country music heartthrob, Nathan Carter on the Friday night.

The following night Bagatelle & Friends take to the main stage on the Saturday night as they return to remember Liam Reilly, who sadly passed away in January 2021.

The final night will see local band Audiopilot wow crowds in what is likely to draw large swathes of crowds from across the county and beyond.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Ureumu Adejinmi said anticipation for the four day showcase had already generated a “real buzz” around the county town.

Fellow Fianna Fáil Cllr Seamus Butler, meanwhile, asked for the “unseemly” sight of bucket collections in and around the festival itself to cease with immediate effect.