‘Killarney is getting everything’ - Kerry councillor slams Halloween funding allocation

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

A Kerry councillor has slammed the funding allocations for Halloween, highlighting the disparity between Killarney and other towns in the county.

Killorglin-based Councillor Podge Foley was furious at his town’s share of the Fáilte Ireland Halloween grant and claimed Killarney had received multiples of what other places had.

Killorglin is set to host a ‘An Féile Eile’, a multi-day festival inspired by traditional Irish Halloween, with historic activities such as willow weaving and fermentation workshops.

The seven-day festival is expected to receive between €300 and €700 this year, down significantly from the €2,500 it was granted in 2024.

Mr Foley said: “We’re trying run to Halloween up here in Killorglin and like everything with the council, we’re finding it near impossible to get any kind of funding for anything. Everything goes to Killarney.”

“Killorglin is four grand short of what they hoped to raise for Halloween this year, so the council is not spending the money in the places they should be spent. Killarney again, of course, is getting everything.”

As part of Fáilte Ireland’s ‘Home of Halloween’ pilot scheme, Kerry received €100,000 this year to develop festivals rooted in local heritage, folklore, and community spirit.

The scheme is expected to generate over 270,000 additional visitors and contribute €17 million to the national economy.

Killorglin’s ‘An Féile Eile’ organiser, Lisa Sandow, who is clocking-in many volunteer hours said the funding provided “no encouragement”.

Her festival team have curated a programme inspired by traditional Irish Halloween, looking to emulate ancient Celtic ritual and folklore.

“We really want to produce something authentic and real to the Irish culture. As Halloween evolves its becoming more plastic and contrived. We’ve had multiple people message us saying we are the festival they want to come see because we’re offering something authentic. Something that would have been part of Irish tradition for a very long time,” said Lisa.

“Last year we were told we did an amazing job, we did exactly what we were supposed to do. This year even they said ‘we love your website’ but then we got only €300 to €700.”

“We are putting in a lot of work on a voluntary level for the community and its hard to enjoy the process when everything is so stressed. Its supported by the community but I don’t feel its supported by funding, even though we’re making them look good.”

“We’re getting minimal return due to the funding not only being focused on Killarney but the resources for media won’t be available in the rest of Kerry when they’re away at the major Killarney dates.”

Kerry County Council has also €125,000 on the Tralee-based Shannon Star Entertainment, to help with event management and marketing.

Mr Foley said the council were using advertising companies because the volunteer organisations were flagging due to lack of support, and the resulting “burnt out” volunteers.

“There will be no Halloween soon if the council keeps treating community groups like this,” he said.

In response, Kerry County Council said: “€63,000 of Programming fees is towards the creation and delivery of new events as well as family treasure hunts, Halloween workshops, night-time projections across the county and music performances. €12,000 is allocated to provide additional support to existing festivals in the county; some of whom are already in receipt of other grant sources of funding.”

"A requirement of the funding agreement with Fáilte Ireland is for a dedicated destination coordinator. Kerry County Council procured, through a public procurement process, through E-Tenders, an Event Management Company (EMC) with relevant experience to provide full event management services for the Samhain Festival covering a broad range of services to deliver and promote the festivals across the county during the period.”