New Ross - Proposed "Docks Hotel Festival" and guess who? JEDWARD! AGAIN! (MOD NOTE)

Ledger · 08-05-2012 6:25pm #1

Docks Hotel (Portovino to most of us) are hoping to get permission to use John St Carpark from the council for a festival on July 14th and 15th (I think).

Lots of bands and acts hopefully playing, (to be honest I haven't heard of a lot of them) the headline act you ask? Jedward. Again. 3rd Year in a row.

Is it just me or is the whole annual Jedward Festival (my proposed new name for the Dunbrody Fest) getting a bit tired?

-- EDIT --

Mod Note

Businesses who wish to post on Boards must speak with the Community Managers at hello@boards.ie if they wish to engage on any forum on this website. That is part of the Terms and Conditions we all agreed to on using this site. The mods have no say in who does or does not get such accounts. It is done to validate the business to ensure they are who they say they are (preventing any legal issues in the event we let a randomer claim to be someone and it turned out they were not) and ensure that if its a for-profit business and they are using Boards purely for financial gain that they pay to use the service and within certain rules as Boards is not a service that is cheap nor free to run. They have bills just like any other business, and its very expensive operation.

I would hope that other businesses would understand this. We want to ensure that both sides get a say in this argument, but both sides must be fair and not pretend to be someone independent with no connections to the festival when posting here either for or against. Shilling in the form of sock puppetry, again for or against, is also against the site rules and we have systems in place to detect such abuse taking place on the forum and are aware of such ongoing on this forum and action will be taken once confirmed.

Any problems, or questions, just send me a PM on the subject. But I wanted to remind everyone of above so that it stops right now and does not continue.

Thanks.

Sully
South East Forum Moderator

Conas · 08-05-2012 7:04pm

A lot of it will depend on whether the Town Council grants them permission or not. I personally think it will get the go ahead and rightfully so too. New Ross town needs it, and it's great to see the people who run the docks trying to organise such an event. But once they build a stage in Johns Street car park, the only problem from what I can see would be space. It could get a little crammed, as the area around there isn't that big.

Ledger · 08-05-2012 7:25pm

Conas wrote: »

A lot of it will depend on whether the Town Council grants them permission or not. I personally think it will get the go ahead and rightfully so too. New Ross town needs it, and it's great to see the people who run the docks trying to organise such an event. But once they build a stage in Johns Street car park, the only problem from what I can see would be space. It could get a little crammed, as the area around there isn't that big.

Yeah, I agree that it would be great for the town. It's just Jedward really put me off it and I would imagine that a lot of their usual clientèle might not go because of it either. On top of all that Jedward don't match up with the other acts named in the New Ross Standard at all audience wise.

I would imagine that if it goes ahead, it wouldn't be a very big event. Like you said it's not a huge area. Wouldn't surprise me if they closed off John St for it for safety, increasing the crowd area again.

allthedoyles · 08-05-2012 9:37pm

I hope this works ......why wait for the Town Council / Festival Committee

They have €11,000 in the bank and still cannot organise something .

This initiative is been funded by private enterprise with a starting budget of €30,000..

Its obvious that its going to take private enterprises to help the economy keep going .

Local Governments are in stagnation .

Squiggle · 09-05-2012 9:02am

allthedoyles wrote: »

I hope this works ......why wait for the Town Council / Festival Committee

Because closing a public car park and roads requires permission and rightly so imo. Anything that brings business to the town is good news but from a health and safety point of few I can only see the Johns street car park as being a nightmare situation - much too small especially if the likes of Jedward are going to be there !.

Conas · 09-05-2012 1:26pm

Squiggle wrote: »

Because closing a public car park and roads requires permission and rightly so imo. Anything that brings business to the town is good news but from a health and safety point of few I can only see the Johns street car park as being a nightmare situation - much too small especially if the likes of Jedward are going to be there !.

+1

That's what my only concern would have been aswell. It's just too small an area, and they would have to erect a decent sized stage aswell. For Jedward they would get a very big crowd, and there would be an awful lot of children crammed into a tight space, when you take that into consideration it would be very dangerous. If they still wanted some sort of festival to go ahead it should be in the park. But a lot of it will boil down to finances, and to be honest the reason it was cancelled in the first place was for that very reason. On the grounds of Health and Safety this may not get the go ahead. It's a pity though.

wolverette · 09-05-2012 11:07pm

Had a read in the Echo and some of the bands mentioned would draw an older crowd than Jedward, (Royseven, Aslan and The Four of Us). If it was real bands like that in the smaller setting, it could be really good for the town.

Dilbert75 · 22-05-2012 10:18pm

According to the New Ross Standard today, the Bond Store car park is to be opened again, creating 200 extra spaces. Hopefully that will suffice.

BTW, kudos to everyone involved in getting this off the ground. Times are hard for all businesses and it's great to see people taking a risk on bringing a bit of extra life into the town.

allthedoyles · 22-05-2012 11:25pm

Its understandable enough that you wish to hold this Festival in the vicinity of the Docks Hotel .

But can I ask if the usual venue Town Park was ever an option .

Delighted to hear that it is going ahead , but like everyone else , the only concern is area size.

The NR Standard says that the festival will attract more than 4,000 music fans .

We now know that Jedward / Sunday is limited to 1,500 tickets .

But with Jedward now in the Euro final and all , you could find more than double the expected visitors especially if Eurovision goes well .

Sully · 22-05-2012 11:50pm

Topic Cleaned pending business identity verification

(The above applies to those who spotted posts since removed. Everyone else can disregard this

)

somegirl2009 · 23-05-2012 10:14pm

Well Fair play to the docks hotel for doing something for the town

unlike the New Ross Town Council who do NOTHING!!!!!

looking forward to the festival

Riddim Bandit · 13-07-2012 12:30am

Just wondering how much Jedward will take this year. And what "real" bands you could get for that money.
Ohh, ill never forgive TC for dropping Fun Lovin Criminals.

Conas · 07-08-2012 4:54pm

The festival has been CANCELLED. It's on the front page of the New Ross Standard today. The Docks has also been hit with a €10,000 loss because of it.

The event manager Mark Dunne claimed that the festival has been derailed by a 'deliberate and sustained campaign by a small sub section of the business community".

This is disgraceful behaviour, and by right he should have named and shamed those business's concerned. People pump money into doing something for the town, and this is what they get. I'm also guessing it's the same bunch of dopey clowns that objected to allowing Dunnes to open on the quay a few years back.

somegirl2009 · 07-08-2012 11:00pm

I would love to know who are these small sub section of the business community

The CHEEK of them who ever they are! i would actually boycott their businesses if i found out !!!!!

Chagan · 08-08-2012 12:26am

Surely the festival would be good for local businesses or am I missing something here?

Conas · 08-08-2012 8:41pm

Chagan wrote: »

Surely the festival would be good for local businesses or am I missing something here?

It would be for every other town in the country, but not for New Ross though.

A lot of the business people who have been around the town for decades seem to think they own the place, and the town council are the biggest farce in the country run by incompetent stooges. So when you have a combo like that then the town is guaranteed to be going backwards. In my opinion the docks is the best business in town. Run by a good management with great staff. The crowds they get each week is proof of that. When the town council decided to piss money down the drain, and cancel the one thing that brought people into the town, the docks took their own initiative in trying to do something fun for the people of the town, and even pumped in their own money into it. It's a spit in the face for them, and if I was Mark Dunne I wouldn't take this lying down. I'd push to keep the festival going ahead, and screw these arseholes who are trying to ruin the town.

allthedoyles · 08-08-2012 9:59pm

somegirl2009 wrote: »

I would love to know who are these small sub section of the business community

The CHEEK of them who ever they are! i would actually boycott their businesses if i found out !!!!!

So who could the small subsection of the business community be ?

Its unlikely to be restaurants / take-aways ..........certainly not publicans .

Could'nt see supermarkets or small shops complaining .

Hair-dressers / beauty salons etc should'nt care - nor other hotel / theatre etc

It could be the John Street traders or indeed the organisers of the cancelled festival , who may be afraid that this would turn into an annual event and out-do the much renowned JFK Dunbrody Festival .

Conas · 09-08-2012 1:34am

allthedoyles wrote: »

It could be the John Street traders or indeed the organisers of the cancelled festival , who may be afraid that this would turn into an annual event and out-do the much renowned JFK Dunbrody Festival .

There should be no speculation, these people should be named and shamed. They are nothing but saboteurs. This is when you need the Town Council to step in and show some leadership, but sadly they can't even spell leadership let alone show it. The only thing they were good for was issuing people who parked their car in the town with fines, then wasted it. The only decent business in town has been screwed out of €10,000. I'm not happy with The Docks that they haven't printed and exposed these saboteurs who have ruined their festival. But maybe if someone in the Docks had been on the elite no good for nothing Town Council the festival would be going ahead. Certain special business's in Ross tend to be looked after by their cronies in the town council, so I doubt they'll intervene.

joey2222 · 09-08-2012 9:51am

Its not the Johns Street traders either. I spoke to a few of them and apparently the Guards rang around last week asking if The Docks had spoken to any of them about the concert. Turns out they hadn't but it wasn't an issue for them really. A good few of them had tickets for it too!! Then a local business person turned up asking a few of them had they any concerns about parking,broken windows etc. I suppose they had but no more than any normal weekend. I think there was some concerns written down to be given to the guys in The Docks but nothing unreasonable just stuff like if there was anything broken who would pay for repairs. Then the guys from The Docks called around to the traders at the end of last week and chatted with them all individually about any concerns they had. That was great no problem it went well. Then front page of The Standard Tuesday morning had that it was cancelled!!!
The John Street traders as well as other local businesses were shocked. Whatever happened over the weekend must have been serious enough for them to have to move the event indoors. I heard a rumor about a solicitor letter but from whom I don't know and what it contained is even more of a mystery?!

bohspunks · 09-08-2012 10:24am

Docks need to be a lot more specific on this as there are people talking about boycotting downtown shops etc.

Who objected? Did the council then refuse permission or did the Guards refuse permission etc.

One for the local papers to look into.

TURRICAN · 09-08-2012 6:06pm

joey2222 wrote: »

Its not the Johns Street traders either. I spoke to a few of them and apparently the Guards rang around last week asking if The Docks had spoken to any of them about the concert. Turns out they hadn't but it wasn't an issue for them really. A good few of them had tickets for it too!! Then a local business person turned up asking a few of them had they any concerns about parking,broken windows etc. I suppose they had but no more than any normal weekend. I think there was some concerns written down to be given to the guys in The Docks but nothing unreasonable just stuff like if there was anything broken who would pay for repairs. Then the guys from The Docks called around to the traders at the end of last week and chatted with them all individually about any concerns they had. That was great no problem it went well. Then front page of The Standard Tuesday morning had that it was cancelled!!!
The John Street traders as well as other local businesses were shocked. Whatever happened over the weekend must have been serious enough for them to have to move the event indoors. I heard a rumor about a solicitor letter but from whom I don't know and what it contained is even more of a mystery?!

Thats a very long and interesting first post!
hmmmm:rolleyes:;)

Conas · 09-08-2012 7:35pm

joey2222 wrote: »

Its not the Johns Street traders either. I spoke to a few of them and apparently the Guards rang around last week asking if The Docks had spoken to any of them about the concert. Turns out they hadn't but it wasn't an issue for them really. A good few of them had tickets for it too!! Then a local business person turned up asking a few of them had they any concerns about parking,broken windows etc. I suppose they had but no more than any normal weekend. I think there was some concerns written down to be given to the guys in The Docks but nothing unreasonable just stuff like if there was anything broken who would pay for repairs. Then the guys from The Docks called around to the traders at the end of last week and chatted with them all individually about any concerns they had. That was great no problem it went well. Then front page of The Standard Tuesday morning had that it was cancelled!!!
The John Street traders as well as other local businesses were shocked. Whatever happened over the weekend must have been serious enough for them to have to move the event indoors. I heard a rumor about a solicitor letter but from whom I don't know and what it contained is even more of a mystery?!

What you said makes no sense to me whatsoever. Mark Dunne said it was a deliberate and sustained effort by local business's. So cleary someone has be trying to sabotage this festival since it was first annouced. Lets go through the traders that are located in Johns Street shall we.

There's Walsh Pratice which is always closed off by large gates at closing time. So they should really have no objections, or worries about damage to their property.

There's the little shop beside it. Would they have reason to object? I doubt it, because they'd stand to gain the most by having such a festival.

Then there's Eyecatchers, and Sam McCauley's up there too. They may have reason to object, but if any damage had occured to their property they'd be well covered because of both being National Companies.

Go down the street a bit more, you have Ephesus Kebab. Not a hope in hell of them ever objecting.

Quirkes Dental Surgery wouldn't either I'd say. Very sound people run that place.

There's Barrow Office Supplies there too, who sponser a lot of events in the town. Be very suprised if they opposed it.

It's one of the business over the town I'd say.

allthedoyles · 09-08-2012 9:20pm

Its already been said above that its not the John St traders ( by joey2222)

I think a lot of local business is ruled out at this stage .

And its unlikely to be the butchers , the baker or candlestick makers .........so the options are narrowing .

Conas · 09-08-2012 9:28pm

allthedoyles wrote: »

Its already been said above that its not the John St traders ( by joey2222)

I think a lot of local business is ruled out at this stage .

And its unlikely to be the butchers , the baker or candlestick makers .........so the options are narrowing .

Well I doubt that the business who objected is going to come out and admit it, because people will boycott their business. But I think if they were throwing out solictor letters, then the public are entitled to know who they are, and the reasoning behind it. The Docks shouldn't been screwed out of €10,000, a festival cancelled, and no one gets an explanation.

allthedoyles · 09-08-2012 11:34pm

Official Statement from the New Ross Summer Festival Organisers

OFFICIAL STATEMENT:

New Ross Summer Festival Fights On

As we all know at this point we have been left with no alternative but to cancel the outdoor events for this year’s event.
However due to an outpouring of support from local retailers and general public, we will be running our over 18's event within the Docks Hotel.
Unfortunately our all ages gig with Jedward is cancelled and refunds are being processed for those who bought online.
Those who purchased tickets in the Docks Hotel can be refunded immediately, please note that tickets need to be presented.
Saturday’s line up is as follows, Original Rudeboys, Bipolar Empire and Campaign LK.
Sundays show will be King Kong Company and Smash Hits.
Tickets are available online and are priced at €10.00 + booking fee, please note that these events are for over 18's.

We have received a lot of support from the retailers of New Ross expressing their support for the event and we would like to make it very clear that when we referenced a small section of the business community in our original statement we had not intended to tar all business in the area with the one brush.
The campaign was spear headed by a local business that is not involved in retail in the town.
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the retailers that have come forward offering support over the last few days and it proves to us that there is a vibrant and determined business community in New Ross.
This community holds to key to New Ross's future and it is their vision as is ours to build New Ross into a town that can hold its head high and make it a favoured destination for tourists.

We have worked hard to reschedule our events indoors at the Docks Hotel and we urge the public to support this event and can promise some great and memorable gigs.
We would like to thank New Ross Town Council for their continued support for the event and an old saying rings true now more than ever........ "The show must go on"
We look forward to hosting some of Ireland's top acts and we also look forward to next year’s plans.

Conas · 10-08-2012 12:02am

"We have received a lot of support from the retailers of New Ross expressing their support for the event and we would like to make it very clear that when we referenced a small section of the business community in our original statement we had not intended to tar all business in the area with the one brush.
The campaign was spear headed by a local business that is not involved in retail in the town.
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the retailers that have come forward offering support over the last few days and it proves to us that there is a vibrant and determined business community in New Ross.
This community holds to key to New Ross's future and it is their vision as is ours to build New Ross into a town that can hold its head high and make it a favoured destination for tourists"

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

A local business that is not involved in retail in the town? Now the Docks has to do a little more explaining, because I'll tell you one thing, if this is the case, then I'm embarassed for them. Being bullied by a crowd that aren't even retailing in the town. These folks should have no say in anything that happens, and should mind their own business, and quiet simply f*ck off. It would be handy if the festival organizers would be a bit more detailed as to who they are, since supposedly they aren't from the town :rolleyes:

Something tells me the Docks could be trying to riddle their way out of a tricky situation from that statement. Maybe they went over budget, and couldn't cope with the cost of organizing such an event. They had a lot of acts, and I doubt Jedward come cheap either.

Since this business is out of town as they say, it really isn't an excuse for not having the festival. No excuse whatsoever. The Docks bottled it, they would have made a loss from the whole thing, and it wasn't worth it. So now it's someone else fault, someone out of town. :rolleyes: Nice try, but try again.

allthedoyles · 10-08-2012 12:15am

Can also confirm that the New Ross Traders association have asked some local Town Councillors to ask the Docks management to name and shame who they believe to be responsible for the “deliberate and consistent attempt from a small section of the New Ross Business community to derail the event and stop it in its tracks”

Conas · 10-08-2012 12:26am

allthedoyles wrote: »

Can also confirm that the New Ross Traders association have asked some local Town Councillors to ask the Docks management to name and shame who they believe to be responsible for the “deliberate and consistent attempt from a small section of the New Ross Business community to derail the event and stop it in its tracks”

Some people on Facebook are offended, and think us folks on boards (mainly me) are bashing local businesses. Not true at all. If a statement from the Docks makes the front page of the Standard, and says that the festival was derailed by a 'deliberate and sustained campaign by a small sub section of the business community", then of couse people are going to attack the local business's, because everyone would think those were the ones to blame from that statement. It was up to the docks to make sure they had a correct and fully accurate statement before it went to print, and they should have made sure to announce it was a business OUTSIDE of town, which would have made a massive difference to people's immediate reactions. Bottom Line!

joey2222 · 10-08-2012 9:22am

Conas wrote: »

"We have received a lot of support from the retailers of New Ross expressing their support for the event and we would like to make it very clear that when we referenced a small section of the business community in our original statement we had not intended to tar all business in the area with the one brush.
The campaign was spear headed by a local business that is not involved in retail in the town.
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the retailers that have come forward offering support over the last few days and it proves to us that there is a vibrant and determined business community in New Ross.
This community holds to key to New Ross's future and it is their vision as is ours to build New Ross into a town that can hold its head high and make it a favoured destination for tourists"

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

A local business that is not involved in retail in the town? Now the Docks has to do a little more explaining, because I'll tell you one thing, if this is the case, then I'm embarassed for them. Being bullied by a crowd that aren't even retailing in the town. These folks should have no say in anything that happens, and should mind their own business, and quiet simply f*ck off. It would be handy if the festival organizers would be a bit more detailed as to who they are, since supposedly they aren't from the town :rolleyes:

Something tells me the Docks could be trying to riddle their way out of a tricky situation from that statement. Maybe they went over budget, and couldn't cope with the cost of organizing such an event. They had a lot of acts, and I doubt Jedward come cheap either.

Since this business is out of town as they say, it really isn't an excuse for not having the festival. No excuse whatsoever. The Docks bottled it, they would have made a loss from the whole thing, and it wasn't worth it. So now it's someone else fault, someone out of town. :rolleyes: Nice try, but try again.

This was my original thought too. How can a local business objecting close the whole thing down?? If you were that invested you would just plough ahead regardless, so what if a few people had their noses out of joint.

Squiggle · 10-08-2012 10:18am

Conas wrote: »

Something tells me the Docks could be trying to riddle their way out of a tricky situation from that statement. Maybe they went over budget, and couldn't cope with the cost of organizing such an event. They had a lot of acts, and I doubt Jedward come cheap either.

+1. Bottom line is The Docks cancelled the festival, not the Guards, or the Health and Safety people, or Fire officers, or The Town Council etc etc. On that basis the alleged reason for cancelling the event makes no sense to me. TBH I never believed it anyway. :rolleyes:

TheChevron · 10-08-2012 11:27am

So it's not a festival any more, its just a gig.

Sully · 10-08-2012 12:20pm

Maybe I am being harsh but this sounds like a lame duck committee. How does one business manage to overturn a festival that has the support of a lot of other businesses? In fact, how does an out-of-town business have so much influence over the organizers? Bar maybe pulling out as a sponsor I can't see how its cancelled.

Though re-running Jedward repeatedly seems a bit daft. It didn't work to well over this side of the country and I think its because they play everywhere all the time.

Conas · 10-08-2012 2:25pm

Sully wrote: »

Maybe I am being harsh but this sounds like a lame duck committee. How does one business manage to overturn a festival that has the support of a lot of other businesses? In fact, how does an out-of-town business have so much influence over the organizers? Bar maybe pulling out as a sponsor I can't see how its cancelled.

Though re-running Jedward repeatedly seems a bit daft. It didn't work to well over this side of the country and I think its because they play everywhere all the time.

It's not any committee, because the New Ross Traders Assocation have come out and stated that they had not one complaint filed with them.

Last night I was just thinking about the whole thing, and that's when I started thinking about the cost of what the Family Day would be on the Docks, and to be honest I can see it being nothing but a loss for them.

First off the tickets were limited to just 1,500 people at €12.50 each. So from ticket sales alone they would have brought in €18,750. Now I'm sure the fee for just Jedward would be about that if not more. Plus Jedward play to on average 10,000 people a show at about €25 a ticket, double what the Docks were charging. Plus you have the support acts to pay for. Then you have to factor in that they would have had to erect a stage for just one show which would cost a fair bit, then you'd have to organise and pay for the sound and lighting outside. Then you'd have to probaly rent barriers to block off the street, get extra security. All this adds up big time. Also most people at the Jedward show are going to be kids, so the Docks would be losing money on drinks aswell, because they would sell no alcohol hardly. To be honest for the sake of one outdoor concert, the cost seems pretty high.

I'd say when the Docks were talking about losing €10,000 maybe they would have lost that from the family day.

McLoughlin · 10-08-2012 2:49pm

Conas wrote: »

It's not any committee, because the New Ross Traders Assocation have come out and stated that they had not one complaint filed with them.

Last night I was just thinking about the whole thing, and that's when I started thinking about the cost of what the Family Day would be on the Docks, and to be honest I can see it being nothing but a loss for them.

First off the tickets were limited to just 1,500 people at €12.50 each. So from ticket sales alone they would have brought in €18,750. Now I'm sure the fee for just Jedward would be about that if not more. Plus Jedward play to on average 10,000 people a show at about €25 a ticket, double what the Docks were charging. Plus you have the support acts to pay for. Then you have to factor in that they would have had to erect a stage for just one show which would cost a fair bit, then you'd have to organise and pay for the sound and lighting outside. Then you'd have to probaly rent barriers to block off the street, get extra security. All this adds up big time. Also most people at the Jedward show are going to be kids, so the Docks would be losing money on drinks aswell, because they would sell no alcohol hardly. To be honest for the sake of one outdoor concert, the cost seems pretty high.

I'd say when the Docks were talking about losing €10,000 maybe they would have lost that from the family day.

Add on top of that Public Liabilty Insurance for an event I think they had a great idea but pulled out the moent they realised that they would lose money if it went ahead.

Conas · 10-08-2012 3:03pm

McLoughlin wrote: »

Add on top of that Public Liabilty Insurance for an event I think they had a great idea but pulled out the moent they realised that they would lose money if it went ahead.

Exactly, and to be honest the maths just don't add up. So instead of admitting this the docks thought they'd blame some local nameless business, and hope that people would accept it, and that it'd blow over. But sadly for them it's backfired in their face big time, because when the New Ross Standard went out last Tuesday and thousands of people like myself read their statement, it was blatantly obvious they were pointing the finger at a business in the town from the way it was written. Look I'll put it this way the docks aren't going to come out and say 'eh we made a mistake by hiring probaly the most expensive act in the country for just 1,500 people, at €12.50 a ticket, not to mention the overheads that would have to be paid", but they put themselves into a smaller box by saying it's someone out of the town, and that don't have a business in the town :rolleyes:

beardedmaster · 10-08-2012 3:24pm

Was never going to go to it.. not my cupán tae at all at all. Had no problem with it of course, sure if it's good for the town all the better.

But it's certainly the most scandalous and talked about topic in the Standard for a while I'd say!

Conas · 10-08-2012 8:25pm

beardedmaster wrote: »

Was never going to go to it.. not my cupán tae at all at all. Had no problem with it of course, sure if it's good for the town all the better.

But it's certainly the most scandalous and talked about topic in the Standard for a while I'd say!

Couple of interesting points made at the festival's facebook page yesterday too:

"We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the retailers that have come forward offering support over the last few days and it proves to us that there is a vibrant and determined business community in New Ross. This community holds to key to New Ross's future and it is their vision as is ours to build New Ross into a town that can hold its head high and make it a favoured destination for tourists. ".

Serious amount of ass kissing going on here. I'd say the Docks phone has been ringing non stop over the last few days, with calls from local retailers giving them an ear full. Since the Saturday and Sunday shows are all at night time inside the docks, the retailers will gain nothing, and have no reason to offer any support whatsoever. It's just going to be like any normal Bank Holiday weekend, with two nights of entertainment. The Docks seem to be backpeddaling big time, and trying to play nice. But when you think of it thousands of people read the front page of the standard this week, and it was an insult to the traders of New Ross who did nothing wrong as it seems, and they can never retract what they said fully.

New Ross Traders Association also posted a comment on Facebook:

FAO: Michael Sheehan & John Dwyer
It has come to our Attention that Cllr. Michael Sheehan and Cllr. John Dwyer have been making as what can only be described as inflammatory remarks, against some of New Ross businesses. You are calling for a name and shame policy regarding who is responsible for the cancellation of the proposed New Ross Summer festival at the docks. And have decided that New Ross... businesses are guilty “as Usual”. We would advise you to ask the docks management to name and shame they believe to be responsible for the “deliberate and consistent attempt from a small section of the New Ross Business community to derail the event and stop it in its tracks”

We are also demanding an apology from Cllr. Michael Sheehan and Cllr. John Dwyer and would remind you, that you are both public representatives and should be have accordingly not used “pub Talk “on the social media network.

Well I'm going to give these two guys the benefit of the doubt, because I think their excellent representatives for the New Ross area, and there was no pub talk on their part, just giving their honest opinion, the same way everyone else has done. Nobody can help that their was a false statement made and printed in the local newspaper only the people that made it, and anyway if people don't like a business in Ross then say it out, provided they word it in an honest and fair way, nobody should being taking offense. All business's in the country are open to praise and criticism if deemed necessary.

Sully · 10-08-2012 9:42pm

Conas wrote: »

It's not any committee, because the New Ross Traders Assocation have come out and stated that they had not one complaint filed with them.

Well they didn't stop it for the craic and blame "one" business. So this "committee" or whoever the **** they are seem a complete shambles and disaster to let one business spoil the party.

Last night I was just thinking about the whole thing, and that's when I started thinking about the cost of what the Family Day would be on the Docks, and to be honest I can see it being nothing but a loss for them.

First off the tickets were limited to just 1,500 people at €12.50 each. So from ticket sales alone they would have brought in €18,750. Now I'm sure the fee for just Jedward would be about that if not more. Plus Jedward play to on average 10,000 people a show at about €25 a ticket, double what the Docks were charging. Plus you have the support acts to pay for. Then you have to factor in that they would have had to erect a stage for just one show which would cost a fair bit, then you'd have to organise and pay for the sound and lighting outside. Then you'd have to probaly rent barriers to block off the street, get extra security. All this adds up big time. Also most people at the Jedward show are going to be kids, so the Docks would be losing money on drinks aswell, because they would sell no alcohol hardly. To be honest for the sake of one outdoor concert, the cost seems pretty high.

I'd say when the Docks were talking about losing €10,000 maybe they would have lost that from the family day.

Jedward played in the South East twice this summer, both venues lost out financially one significantly. Just because they are popular doesn't mean they will pull in crowds - Jedward are everywhere. They have a small following that can afford to visit them everywhere, but it wont be enough to make up the gap.

Conas · 10-08-2012 10:14pm

Sully wrote: »

Well they didn't stop it for the craic and blame "one" business. So this "committee" or whoever the **** they are seem a complete shambles and disaster to let one business spoil the party.

Jedward played in the South East twice this summer, both venues lost out financially one significantly. Just because they are popular doesn't mean they will pull in crowds - Jedward are everywhere. They have a small following that can afford to visit them everywhere, but it wont be enough to make up the gap.

Like I said, I think they stopped it because it would have made a loss, especially when you factor in the overheads. I mean look at the hassle they put on themselves for the sake of one outdoor show? If your going to go through the effort of setting up a stage, barriers, sound, lighting, then your best run everything outside over the two days. Not just the family day of 1,500, that's only going to last a few hours.

It wasn't a committee that objected, it was a business outside of town. It's nonsense, I'm not convinced at all. Seems like an excuse. They aren't going to come out and say they didn't plan the Family day right, which would make them look bad. They tried to do it like the Strawberry Festival, or Dunbrody Festival in that kind of mold anyway. But the thing is there just isn't enough space in that car park, to get in a good volume of people to make it profitable. Plus the Docks would sell very little alcohol because a lot of the 1,500 at Jedward will be kids, so that's another big loss.

Nypd · 11-08-2012 3:21am

The statement says a local business not involved in retail !

Is it just me or have I a different take on the meaning of that, is there a business in that area that doesn't sell stuff ?

Conas · 11-08-2012 3:43pm

Nypd wrote: »

The statement says a local business not involved in retail !

Is it just me or have I a different take on the meaning of that, is there a business in that area that doesn't sell stuff ?

Yeah a guy called Johnny GotNoBusiness is a registered retailer in town that dosen't sell anything. I'm guessing it was him. I've finally cracked it.

bruschi · 11-08-2012 3:47pm

Nypd wrote: »

The statement says a local business not involved in retail !

Is it just me or have I a different take on the meaning of that, is there a business in that area that doesn't sell stuff ?

thats what I thought too. it doesnt say its a business out of town.

not sure why some on here are going so overboard in criticising the management of the docks when they dont know the full story themselves. I dont know what happened either, but I'm not going to go around making stuff up on guesses and trying to make something out of nothing.

Conas · 11-08-2012 5:21pm

bruschi wrote: »

thats what I thought too. it doesnt say its a business out of town.

not sure why some on here are going so overboard in criticising the management of the docks when they dont know the full story themselves. I dont know what happened either, but I'm not going to go around making stuff up on guesses and trying to make something out of nothing.

Nobody is criticising the Docks in a harsh or unfair manner. I actually felt sorry for them when I read the article in the paper. But when they issued a statement on Facebook, I found a lot of discrepancies that people have every right to question. They hurt the reputation of the down town retailers in New Ross, and then tried to back track big time because they knew they were wrong. I'm sorry but this is unacceptable behaviour. In these difficult times you should be supporting business's around you, but you don't go and insult them, and accuse them of sabotaging your festival, and screwing you out of €10,000. When in reality they did nothing wrong.

The reality and truth seems to be the Docks made a self-inflicted blunder with the Family Day themselves. Of course they know the full story how can they not? The only thing is they aren't going to come out and tell people the truth.

bruschi · 11-08-2012 7:51pm

Conas wrote: »

Nobody is criticising the Docks in a harsh or unfair manner. I actually felt sorry for them when I read the article in the paper. But when they issued a statement on Facebook, I found a lot of discrepancies that people have every right to question. They hurt the reputation of the down town retailers in New Ross, and then tried to back track big time because they knew they were wrong. I'm sorry but this is unacceptable behaviour. In these difficult times you should be supporting business's around you, but you don't go and insult them, and accuse them of sabotaging your festival, and screwing you out of €10,000. When in reality they did nothing wrong.

The reality and truth seems to be the Docks made a self-inflicted blunder with the Family Day themselves. Of course they know the full story how can they not? The only thing is they aren't going to come out and tell people the truth.

but you dont know that. you are only guessing that. they obviously do know, and until they come out and say the truth then we wont know. you say they came out and insulted other businesses, but are you not doing the same to them by making assumptions about the situation?

Conas · 12-08-2012 12:11pm

bruschi wrote: »

but you dont know that. you are only guessing that. they obviously do know, and until they come out and say the truth then we wont know. you say they came out and insulted other businesses, but are you not doing the same to them by making assumptions about the situation?

It's not guessing at all. I've given a good explanation as to what I think happened, which makes a lot more sense than saying a small sub section of the business community ruined the festival, then saying it wasn't a business in the town, it was a business that don't retail, and are located outside it. Which to me isn't very believable at all. There isn't a hope in hell that it should have cancelled the outdoor show. Then in order to win back the local retailers respect The Docks resort to posting ass kissing messages. You accuse me of maing assumptions, which is entirely fallacious, because all I'm doing is commenting on stuff that's in the public domain. There a big difference in insulting someone, than offering an opinion. I'm doing the latter, and I'm willing to have a healthy in depth debate, without resorting to being nasty.

bruschi · 12-08-2012 6:45pm

Conas wrote: »

It's not guessing at all. I've given a good explanation as to what I think happened, which makes a lot more sense than saying a small sub section of the business community ruined the festival, then saying it wasn't a business in the town, it was a business that don't retail, and are located outside it. Which to me isn't very believable at all. There isn't a hope in hell that it should have cancelled the outdoor show. Then in order to win back the local retailers respect The Docks resort to posting ass kissing messages. You accuse me of maing assumptions, which is entirely fallacious, because all I'm doing is commenting on stuff that's in the public domain. There a big difference in insulting someone, than offering an opinion. I'm doing the latter, and I'm willing to have a healthy in depth debate, without resorting to being nasty.

being honest, I dont really care that much to have a debate about it, but the above highlighted bits amuse me in their irony.

Conas · 12-08-2012 8:20pm

No you are absolutely wrong. There is a big difference in "guessing" and "thinking". If I was "guessing" about The Docks situation I'd being saying random off the cuff stuff with nothing much to back me up, but when I'm "thinking" at least I'm being thoughtful of the situation, and trying to break it down with reasoning and logic.

The Docks had a limit of 1,500 tickets at €12.50, this isn't guessing this is fact.

Jedward are an expensive act to book, no doubt about it. Two other venues had made a loss, and they were playing to even a bigger crowds than what they'd be playing to at The Docks, and they would also have to pay the support acts. This isn't guessing this is fact

The Docks would have had to erect a stage for just one show over a few hours, then that would be it. Seems like a lot of hassle for the sake of 1,500 people. This isn't guessing, this is fact.

They would have to get some lighting, and sound for the outdoor show. Not forgetting that it's only going to be for a few hours, to a small crowd of 1,500. This isn't guessing this is fact.

The Docks specialise in alcoholic beverages, and since most of the 1,500 are going to be kids, there are going to sell very little alcohol. This isn't guessing this is fact.

So yes I am thinking but at least there is logic in what I'm saying, but I'm certainly not guessing. The maths simply don't add up to me. If they add up to you, and you see it differently then by all means explain it to me.

daddy_boy · 12-08-2012 8:36pm

i seem to remember hearing that jedward where paid €20,000 last year for there appearance in the town park, cant remember where i heard it

Conas · 12-08-2012 8:43pm

daddy_boy wrote: »

i seem to remember hearing that jedward where paid €20,000 last year for there appearance in the town park, cant remember where i heard it

So if it was the same this year, then the docks are at a loss from the start. €18,750 is what they'd get from the ticket sales provided all the 1,500 sold.

paudy · 12-08-2012 9:37pm

Conas, you seem to have a lot of information. Where have you got this from?

bernardo mac · 12-08-2012 9:48pm

Hiring Jedward for a Festival is one way of downgrading the event

New Ross - Proposed "Docks Hotel Festival" and guess who? JEDWARD! AGAIN! (MOD NOTE)

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