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08 Sept 2025
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08 Sept 2025
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Tourism NI said the Foyle Cup's application did not achieve the necessary ranking.
Derry and Strabane District Council is to write to Tourism NI seeking an explanation why the Foyle Cup was denied funding for a second year in a row.
This year's Foyle Cup will see more than 700 clubs compete across the north west in July.
Earlier this month Tourism NI said the application for £30,000 did not achieve the ranking necessary for funding to be allocated to the event.
The issue was raised by Independent councillor Shauna Cusack at Tuesday's meeting of council's Business and Culture committee.
Cllr Cusack said that the Foyle Cup attracts up to £8 million to the local economy and helps boost the city and district's profile by attracting teams from across the world.
She proposed that council write to the tourism body and the Department of the Economy asking why the funding application had been rejected.
“Why did this particular event, which has been going on for years and drawn so much attention and fills our city with life and vibrancy, why did they not fulfil the objectives? It just does not make sense. And if they haven't responded already, which I don't believe they have, could they do that with haste,” Cllr Cusack said.
UUP councillor Derek Hussey said the Foyle Cup “brings so much” to the city. He said that the Foyle Cup fills local hotels to capacity each year.
“I think that the bed nights might be one of the top bed night filaments in the overall calendar for the hotel and hospitality sector and not have that recognised by Tourism NI is an absolute disgrace and I can't fathom why they have come to their decision. I support contacting them and saying to them 'give us an explanation on what's going on here,” he said.
Alderman Hsssey added that the number of visitors from outside of Ireland has also to be taken into account.
He said it was an “absolute disgrace” how the Foyle Cup was treated by Tourism NI.
SDLP councillor Rory Farrell voiced his disappointment over funding being denied.
He said the Foyle Cup was a “positive event” which makes a “positive contribution to the local economy” and urged Tourism Ni to invest in the event.
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