Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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293. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding that he has provided to celebrate the 2014 millennium commemorations of the Battle of Clontarf, 1014. [52740/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The Millennium Anniversary of the Battle of Clontarf and the Death of Brian Ború will be the focus of a series of events organised at community, regional and national levels. At national level, it is envisaged that the National Museum of Ireland will present an exhibition highlighting the Viking heritage of Ireland during the time of Brian Ború and my Department will be making funds available for this. I have continued to encourage regional authorities, including Dublin City Council and Fingal, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary County Councils, to make provision for a series of events that will form part of a major festival commemorating the Battle of Clontarf for the week following Easter 2014. I support and encourage Fáilte Ireland to give particular consideration for events related to the Battle of Clontarf when considering funding applications to their festivals and events budget, and I have engaged with organisations such as Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to ensure they their existing funding allocation be targeted towards events relating to this significant anniversary. Cognisant of the potential of these events to be of wider tourist interest, I continue to encourage the co-ordination of organisations in Waterford, Killaloe and Ballina in emphasising their Viking heritage and links to Brian Ború, as well as with Dublin City Council and groups from Clontarf, to maximise the potential benefit to these areas from increased tourism.

The particular funding allocation for commemorative events in 2014 has not been finalised as yet and I must take into account the need to commemorate important events, including the centenary of the founding of Cumann na mBan, the Curragh Mutiny, the Howth, Kilcoole and Larne gun-running, and, of course, the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. If the Deputy has particular events relating to the Millennium of the Battle of Clontarf that he feels should be given consideration, I would be happy to receive his input.