Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome and thank all the contributors. Local festivals and arts festivals are something I have a particular grá for, in particular where I grew up. Mr. Croffy is a native of Ballinasloe as well. Our Town Hall Theatre, musical society and the town band are all elements in a town that has the guts of 7,000 people in the urban area and it probably has a catchment of 14,000. It is probably not considered an extremely large town by Irish standards yet there is a wealth of talent, art and creativity there. As Mr. Cavanagh knows, the amateur musical society celebrated 100 years in recent weeks. We were delighted to be able to have that celebration. As he mentioned, it is about volunteerism. He also mentioned about ten different groups: musical directors, choreographers, front of house, make-up – my own aunt did a lot of the make-up and my cousin is very closely involved with this group as well at a national level. It just shows the wealth and talent that is coming through our small towns and the importance of funding.

Of the rest of the groups, Mr. Hannaway of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland talked very much about the intergenerational aspect and how all ages come together in the musicals and how it brings joy. For a couple of days there is such excitement and an adrenaline rush from everything that happens on opening night right through to the final night. Mr. Cavanagh spoke as well about the number of productions and how 500,000 people would see them. It is absolutely incredible.

I will pose a question to Mr. Cavanagh and Mr. Croffy and perhaps some of the other groups might come in as well. Where are the challenges with the funding streams? It was mentioned that funding has moved from the Department to the Arts Council. How do we ensure that these groups can fight for funding on merit to be able to operate and to foster the sense of volunteerism? What I see on the ground is that after Covid there is a challenge with the community spirit and getting volunteers. How do we do that with what we have now and not lose the wealth and creativity that we have?