Derry City Council has confirmed it will now hold talks with a local concert promoter to thrash out details of hosting a huge outdoor festival at the Ebrington site.

 

By Alan Healy

alan@derrynews.net

 

The Derry News revealed on Monday that council had received the proposal to put on an outdoor music festival at the ILEX managed former British army base at the end of August, with Girls Aloud, Westlife and Meatloaf all in the running to perform.

However, council need to pony up £20k towards the running of the gig, with the total cost of the show estimated to be in the region of £250k.

It also emerged this week that if council cannot secure the money, then the promoter will take the event to another venue outside of Derry.

Speaking at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting of council’s Development committee The Mayor of Derry Gerard Diver said that the event could create a ‘great buzz’ in the northwest, adding that Ebrington would be the ‘perfect place’ for such an event.

“First and foremost this is at a very early stage and we don’t know what the £20,000 would be for,” he said.

“But if we get behind it, then we do it right.

 “I don’t see why we can’t talk with the promoter and tease out the details if we’re serious about developing the cultural offer of the city.

“We should be getting involved to step up our game.”

 

Risk

 

Northland Sinn Fein Councillor, Maeve McLaughlin, raised the issue of ratepayers having to fork out for a private promoter, adding that local traders and stakeholders must also play their part in contributing to the proposed event.

The Mayor responded that the promoter was also carrying a ‘considerable risk’ and ‘it will not just be council putting their hands in the fire’.

His party colleague Mark H Durkan added that ratepayers in the city were already paying huge amounts of money to travel to concerts of this stature outside of the northwest.

“This event could open doors for us,” he said.

“I know Girls Aloud and Westlife would have a broad appeal among the younger generation, although I’m not so sure about Meatloaf.

“Still, two out three ain’t bad.”

A report will now be brought to council on the event.