Xodar wrote: » This would appear to be a very narrow view of the businesses in the town. Go back to the mid to late '80's into the mid' 90's and a lot of the businesses in town benefited from the festival - even then, some more than others (pubs, restaurants, hotels, eateries and a lot of the businesses in the Mall, clothes shops etc). Take 1 business that would probably see no difference if the festival never happened - Hugh Culluty: how many TV's etc would he have sold during the Festival more than any other week during the year - very little. Then in the late '90's the festival was (effectively) taken over by Guinness (or Diagio) and all the' free' street entertainment was no longer free. The once crowded Mall, Denny St & Castle St were shockingly quiet. Even the host hotel (for a long time) - the Brandon saw it die down. You couldn't walk around Princess St due to the throngs of people and then? Nothing. Either you're not will g to admit or are simply not aware that there are businesses in the center of town that are on their knees and the festival doesn't make a blind bit of difference to their business any more and they are expected to float the bill? Again, I have 1st hand experience of a business in the center of a Tralee for 40 years.
amadain wrote: » "THE FESTIVAL OF KERRY" is now a 'private company' and it was purchased a few years ago by Mr O'Gara.
adam88 wrote: » I just can’t get my head around this. How did a festival end up as a private company. I’m sure Mr O’Gara and a few key individuals are paid very well from these donations
Clab mor wrote: » First off no one is expecting anyone to float a bill??? The street entertainment is a joint venture between the town and the festival??? Hugh Culloty will tell you himself it’s two of three weeks after the festival that he’ll make a few extra quid when there a surplus of extra money in the town off the back of the festival. The owners and employees of shops working overtime and making extra as a result of the festival will in turn cause a knock on in spending weeks later. You can argue all you want about the 80 and 90 but it’s about time you stopped living in the past. The town has a higher ratio of business that make a killing from the festival than those that don’t so the fact of the matter is a 1 in 4 ratio of business supporting the festival is shameful. Considering it generates about 6 million Euro for the town. Some business may be on their knees as you put it (I’ve yet to hear any business tell anyone business is booming by the way) but can you imagine what it would be like without the festival.
Xodar wrote: » Not living in the past. As stated the 'festival' is a privately run entity. Why should businesses be expected to put the hand in their pockets to support something that is not beneficial to them. You se to think that the festival is some sort of mythical creature that benefits all businesses in Tralee... the simple fact is that it doesn't. It benefits some of the businesses. Again conflating different things to strengthen a straw man argument. When the festival is beneficial to a business and said business can afford to contribute and does its mutually beneficial - great. When the festival no longer benefits a business why should said business contribute? Sounds like you may have interests in the festival being supported by more than 1 in 4 businesses.. I can tell you my business sees little or none of this magical €6m.
Ciarrai76 wrote: » What is happening with this permanent 'dome'/event centre? I remember reading a few years ago that they were hoping to have it built by 2019....I haven't heard anything bout it in the past couple of years. Wasn't the plan to build it next to the Rose hotel? What's the story now?
Clab mor wrote: » https://www.radiokerry.ie/one-four-tralee-businesses-contribute-rose-festival-street-entertainment/ Shocking statistic considering what the festival does for the town and county. They should list the contributors it might shame some of the other business into contributing.
xxyyzz wrote: » We're off and running
ongarboy wrote: » https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerryman/news/town-in-line-for-huge-retail-boost-38181056.html Hmm.. .is this just a rumour headline or is there concrete evidence? Any retailer can say they're considering new locations. I wonder which ones the Chamber were referring to?
Ciarrai76 wrote: » He had announced he was closing last year but he’s still open!
RevBlueJeans wrote: » Passed "Top of the Rock" Video at the weekend, unfortunately it looks like its gone. RevBJ
CinderKone wrote: » Yes, I noticed that last summer - the whole of Kearney's Road was blocked in several places by players. Rather a large object if it hit a car or cyclist.
Ruraldweller56 wrote: » FYI
Maliah Bald Reptile wrote: » Where does it start from? thinking of bringing either the kids or my camera over...... decisions, decisions