Wexford's Anthony Kearns Calls for Fairer Distribution of Event Funding

Wexford tenor Anthony Kearns has expressed his concerns over the disparity in funding for major events between Dublin and the rest of Ireland. While acknowledging the success of events like the American football game held in Dublin's Croke Park, Kearns has highlighted the need for a more balanced approach to funding across the country. A staggering €10 million was allocated to the American football game in Croke Park, with nearly half of that sum (€5 million) spent on setting up the event in a venue already well-equipped for such large-scale gatherings. While the influx of over 30,000 international visitors brought economic benefits to Dublin, the Irish Tenor is questioning whether such a large sum was necessary given the NFL’s immense financial backing, with the combined owners and shareholders of the league worth over a trillion dollars. In contrast, Wexford received just €150,000 in funding for Fleadh Cheoil, an event that attracted over 800,000 visitors and generated millions for the local economy. Speaking on Morning Mix earlier today Anthony Kearns has suggested that if Wexford had received more funding for Fleadh Cheoil, the event could have been even bigger and could have provided even greater economic benefits. He praised the volunteers and local community in Wexford for their exceptional efforts in hosting the event, which demonstrated that smaller towns and counties can successfully manage and benefit from such large events. Drawing comparisons to the success of the Wexford Opera Festival, Kearns argued that other regions outside Dublin have the infrastructure, talent and enthusiasm to host similar high-profile events. He mentioned how the Wexford Opera Festival, with its selection of lesser-known operas, has attracted international audiences and contributed significantly to the local economy. In the same vein, he believes that with a fairer distribution of funding, smaller counties like Wexford could also thrive and draw crowds from around the world. Dublin can often become overcrowded and other counties like Wexford, Cork and Limerick have proven they can handle large-scale events.