No shortage of support for the Gorey Market House Festival.
The future of the extremely successful Market House Festival is in doubt, according to a press statement from Gorey Municipal Council, but why this should be the case remains a bit of an unsolved mystery.
The recent August Bank Holiday Monday festival attracted the biggest crowds seen on the streets of Gorey in years, the entertainment appeared to suit all age’s and groups, certainly there were no complaints, and financially the programme appears to have balanced the books.
However, the committee behind the Gorey Market House Festival met recently to review the 2014 festival and consider its future.
The Market House festival was initiated in 2010 and builds on the tradition of the Gorey Arts Festival and the Summer Fair.
The organisers believe its purpose is to showcase Gorey to the people of Wexford and far beyond and to give North Wexford a quality festival as part of the summer events calendar.
Public reaction to the programme of events that ran from Thursday to Sunday, inclusive, was extremely positive and the criteria set out by the organisers appear to be fulfilled in fine detail.
Now, the organisers believe that unless the festival attracts in new blood and ideas and with a broader base of support amongst local businesses and other interests it cannot continue in its current format.
One of the questions asked is should the festival be shortened from four days to three, perhaps?
Is the Bank Holiday the best weekend to hold the festival?
The latter would probably be difficult to achieve without clashing with more established festivals as finding weekends with limited activity during the summer months is like searching for an anchor in an ocean!
The organisers are asking if people would pay a small contribution or entrance fee.
Are there new sponsors who would like to come on board?
Are there other ways to deliver a quality festival experience that can raise the profile of the town and bring in more business?
Full story this week in THE GOREY ECHO.
