by Marianne Flood

Next year’s Foyle Maritime Festival is facing a funding short fall after its major backer warned it has less money available for events.

Derry City and Strabane District Council had hoped to secure £190,000 from Tourism Northern Ireland (TNI) to help fund the £912,596 event, which will be one of the biggest festivals to take place in Ireland in 2018.

In 2016 the Foyle Maritime Festival attracted an audience of 163,576 visitors, bringing an estimated £3.5 million into the local economy.

Council has forecast the 2018 event will bring in £125,000 through fees and sponsorship, leaving a cost to council of £587,596 if they can successfully secure the £190,000 from TNI.

However, it has emerged that TNI have told council less money will available this year through its ‘international event fund’ this year.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting of Council’s Business and Culture Committee, Head of Culture, Aeidin McCarter said the fund was due to open in September but has been temporarily suspended as it is being evaluated by external consultants.

Ms McCarter said it is hoped that the funding process will open in November 2017 once this process is complete, but added: “TNI have warned that their budgets are going to be cut and that less money will be available for event funds”.

SDLP Councillor John Boyle said “This suggests what we are asking for isn’t what we are going to get.

“We may potentially have to make up a shortfall.”

Councillors were told Festival Sponsorship Officers are in discussion with a number of private sector organisations to secure a total of £100,000 across a number of sponsorship agreements.

Ms McCarter said her department was ‘working very hard to ensure there was no funding shortfall and working hard to get private sponsorship’.

She added if there was a shortfall a report would be brought before council on the matter.

The 2018 Foyle Maritime Festival will run from Saturday July until Sunday July 22, when it will host the Clipper Round the World Race for the fourth consecutive time.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.