A new funfair is to be laid on at the Shambles Yard during Armagh’s Georgian Festival in a bid to stretch the big event further across the city.
And a special quiet hour — to cater for visitors with special needs — is also being planned at the fair as part of the annual festivities.
The recommendation was given the green light at the October meeting of ABC Council’s Economic Development and Regeneration Committee.
The four-day festival will run from Thursday, November 27 until Sunday, November 30.
The funfair will operate on three of those four days, while the now traditional light shows will be held over two nights.
A report to committee describes the Georgian Festival as “one of the council’s signature tourism events”, which draws tens of thousands to the city to see Armagh’s Georgian history and stories brought to life with a diverse range of events.
The festival weekend includes stalls featuring a wide range of craft, confectionery and food in both the city centre and the Mall on the Saturday, with children’s activities also taking place on the Mall.
The report states: “The free children’s entertainment will include funfair rides, face painting and traditional Georgian games catering for all ages. There will also be a programme of live music throughout the city centre to enhance the event.”
The light shows will take place on the Friday at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm, and on the Saturday at 5pm, 6pm, 7pm and 8pm.
The report confirms: “The event will be ticketed and is usually sold out on both nights, with large numbers coming into the city centre on both evenings.”
There have previously been complaints that the activities do not cover the whole of the city centre, with some traders feeling left out.
For that reason, the intention is that a “suitably qualified operator” will be put in place to host a funfair within the Shambles Yard.
The intention, committee has been told, is “to create an additional family-friendly event over the Georgian weekend and to assist in driving footfall into the Shambles area”.
The funfair would run on the Friday from 7pm until 10pm, Saturday from 11am until 10pm, and Sunday from noon until 8pm.
The operator will also look at providing a quiet hour during the first hour of opening on the Saturday.
The additional attraction got a warm welcome and thumbs-up from the committee, but with a few requests made at this stage of planning.
SDLP councillor Thomas O’Hanlon was happy to propose approval of the report but asked about extending the quiet hour offering.
He asked officers if they “could engage with the operator a wee bit more in relation to the quiet hour provision on the Friday or the Sunday, even for a half-hour or hour slot”.
With that, Councillor O’Hanlon welcomed the plans and moves to extend the festival geographically, adding: “I think it’s important to be able to stretch the festival down to the Shambles area.”
DUP Councillor Scott Armstrong said he was happy to second the recommendation but sought more information in relation to “costing for carers and parents required to accommodate children”.
He added: “It is important that when we do run these events and have the funfair provider in place that they are affordable for parents and carers. It is one of the most successful events that council put on. If you’re there with a family of four or a family of five, it can become a very expensive day. We want to make it enjoyable but also affordable for families.
“It’s a great initiative, especially the quiet hour, and I’m looking forward to seeing this year’s Georgian Festival grow — and hopefully next year we can keep growing it.”
Head of Tourism Brian Johnston agreed to look at both issues raised and report back to committee.
