Caravan Parks at Fleadh 2010 Cavan

reelkidmusic

Not sure if this is appropriate here. It is also in the Traditional Music Section

I have been attending Fleadh Cheoil for many years and have fondly enjoyed the whole experience of the Fleadh. Over the years, I have camped at the Fleadh and more recently I have moved on to caravanning. I use the caravan quite a lot for traditional music related festivals, family holidays and on occasion for work. Therefore, I have had great experience of many campsites around the country.

Recently, I have been accessing www.fleadh2010.ie to obtain information regarding parking a caravan at fleadh 2010. To my horror I have found that you are charging €30 per night for parking in the Family Camp Site with no individual power supplied. You also intend on charging €10 for an additional tent and a further €10 for an additional car. This is not just grossly unfair but daylight robbery. The cost of parking in nearby Virginia per night varies from €18 to €22 with an additional charge of €3 for electric hookup. An additional tent in this campsite would be €2 and €2 for an additional car This would be considered, I think to be above average for parking a caravan per night in Ireland.

I parked my caravan in Tullamore in 2009 at the Harriers Athletic Grounds. I paid €25 per night for caravan, extra tent and two cars (total €100). This was from Thursday evening until Monday afternoon. The organisers had the goodwill to allow us to stay until Tuesday, with the extra night being free of charge. This to me offered good value for money and I did not mind sacrificing the electric hookup. There is no indication whether showers will be provided on site or not and if so will these cost extra. This is a facility that was free of charge in Tullamore in 2009. If I were to have the same combination at Fleadh 2010, it would cost me €200 (excluding showers). This is a 100% increase in 12 short months.

I have also noticed that the cost of pitching a tent in the campsite is €40 per person for the weekend. This may sound fair but when compared, the cost of pitching a tent in Letterkenny in 2006 was €30 per person. I also checked the prices for Tullamore 2009, which was also €30 per person. That is 33% increase in 12 months. (www.fleadh2009.com/stay). Credit is due to the organisers of the Fleadh in Tullamore, where they held the Fleadh for three years, quite successfully and still did not increase prices. Tullamore built up an excellent reputation over the three years and this is the first time that Cavan are holding the Fleadh. I certainly hope that the Cavan Fleadh is a success but I see this as a poor beginning.

I do not need to go on the whole rant of the devastating economic period in this country. We are all feeling the effects of it and are constantly reminded. The prices you are quoting for caravans and tents at Fleadh 2010 do not reflect this. I must also point out that I attended the Ulster Fleadh in Castlewellan in 2009 with my caravan and was not charged for parking in the local soccer pitch which was located almost next to the competition venues. I also attended the Fermanagh County Fleadh earlier this year with my caravan and must applaud the goodwill of the committee to allow me to park on the grounds of the community centre, again free of charge, where competitions were held. I must point out that I am not an Ulster musician but in fact from Co. Clare. I thoroughly enjoy attending Fleadh’s not only the All Ireland but also at county and provincial level. It appears to me on this occasion, the pricing structure is based on an apparent monopoly and utter greed.

In conclusion, I think that this is yet another attempt on the part of CCÉ to wrangle as much money as possible from dedicated Fleadh followers. There is no value in what you offer at the campsites and certainly no justification for the outrageous prices. These dedicated followers are constantly undermined and looked down on from the hierarchy of the upper echelons of CCÉ. The majority camping at Fleadh Cheoil are young musicians which will form the future of the organisation. You must remember that without the musicians attending Fleadh Cheoil, it is nothing. The old saying, ‘Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí’ seems to be well and truly forgotten. I hope that you will take time to read this email and consider the seriousness of the situation. The provision of campsites is well and truly welcomed at Fleadh Cheoil but not at the outrageous prices you are quoting.

coolvale

i agree it is robbery.
but people will pay.if nobody paid they would soon do something.

denmar

This is way too expensive but what choice do we have !!! Perhaps an opportunity for one of the caravan or motorhome clubs here to rent some ground from one of the local organisations and provide parking at a more realistic rate for members.

reelkidmusic

That's a good idea denmar. Maybe even an individual would be willing to open a field for caravans and motorhomes. The Fleadh campsites are nothing more than a field to park in anyway.

reelkidmusic

If there is anybody else that considers the cost of camping to be over priced, they should get in contact with the Fleadh committee. If there is some support shown, they will have to lower prices.

At the moment, I am the only person who has highlighted this issue and they do not seem to be listening to my point of view.