Plans to stage two music festivals over two weekends at the Shambles Yard in Armagh have been given the thumbs-up for next year.
They will take place at the start of May and end of August and follow the success of a one-day festival in August this year.
Organised by ERA Events, Joanne Shilliday – the driving force behind it – was present at Monday night’s monthly meeting of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council to listen to unanimous, cross-party support.
A number of local businesses – bars, restaurants and hotels – had offered feedback in August and expressed delight at the effects on their trade.
It was glowing comments such as these which were presented, alongside a report outlining plans, last night (Monday).
Ulster Unionist Alderman Gordon Kennedy proposed accepting plans for the four days of music at the Shambles Yard, describing August’s event as “very successful” and welcoming the “positive feedback and comments from businesses that saw their footfall increase”.
Sinn Féin Councillor Sarah Duffy seconded the proposal, commending “Joanne Shilliday and the entire team at ERA Events for their work at the fantastic event last summer and for allowing us to go back and relive our younger years”.
She added: “What we have in front of us tonight is another example of Armagh city at its best – vibrant, welcoming and ambitious.
“The feedback included within the report speaks for itself. Our local hospitality providers reported a huge increase in trade as a result of Joanne’s creative and forward-thinking initiative. They have described it as invaluable for their businesses in the city centre, injecting life, energy and vital custom right in the heart of Armagh.
“I also want to recognise the glowing feedback from the PSNI on last year’s event and the excellent communication Joanne carried out with the nearby churches and residents. That proactive approach – listening to concerns, planning responsibly and working in partnership – is exactly how to plan events and something we can learn from.”
In seconding, she commended Joanne and the ERA team for their “belief, vision and commitment to Armagh city and to our local economy”.
DUP Councillor Kyle Savage said he too would be supportive.
He said the feedback he had received from friends in Armagh had been “very positive” and felt other locations might benefit too.
He asked: “Is it possible to sit and talk to the promoter of this event to see if there are any other opportunities to run events right across the borough?”
Alliance Councillor Peter Lavery was also happy to see the event return to the Shambles Yard but agreed that it could be expanded to other areas.
“Lurgan would be a great place for one of these events, if Joanne’s in the mood for expanding further out in the years to come,” he remarked.
The SDLP’s Thomas O’Hanlon also hailed the “very, very positive” feedback locally.
He praised the management and how they had responded to a family bereavement in August.
“I do want to acknowledge that in the run-up to last year’s event, there was a bereavement in the area and the team very sensitively managed that set-up and organisation and I know that was very much appreciated by the family concerned,” said Councillor O’Hanlon.
He also suggested that a policy relating to the hire of event space should be reviewed, and officers agreed to consider this.
Said Councillor O’Hanlon: “If there’s a policy there and the applicant meets that policy, should it really have to come to council every single time, is my point.”
Sinn Féin Councillor John Óg O’Kane was also full of praise.
He said: “It was a well-run event in the summer and it brought a great feel to Armagh city, not just in terms of the crowds, but the sense that it lifted the whole place.”
Approval has now been given for the two separate two-day music festivals.
The first is earmarked for Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3, with the second planned for Saturday and Sunday, August 29 and 30.
Events will run from 4pm to 10pm on each Saturday and 4pm to 9pm on the Sundays.
According to the applications for hire of the Shambles Yard, the intention is to stage four days of “open-air music”, aimed at those in the 30+ age group, with “various artists covering the 90s/00s era of dance music and country/traditional music”.
Organisers expect crowds of between 2,000 and 3,500 on each of the four days.
Acts, ticket sales and further details will be confirmed in due course.
It is also planned that the events will be licensed and will include food vendors with a “focus on local Food Heartland providers”.
