Cong Festival still awaiting LEADER funding

Cong Festival still awaiting LEADER funding


Ciara Galvin
ciaragalvin@mayonews.ie

The recent lifting of the embargo on LEADER funding has been warmly welcomed but some projects around Mayo are still faced with waiting to see if funding will be granted.
The Cong Festival Committee are one such committee awaiting approval for LEADER funding. Speaking to The Mayo News, Chairperson of the committee, Patrick Luskin said despite previous reports that the committee have been granted funding, the committee is still awaiting confirmation from LEADER. The committee are awaiting approval for €66,000 funding for construction of two bronze statues in the village. The statues will depict characters Mary Kate Danagher and SeΡn Thornton from the film, ‘The Quiet Man’ which was filmed in the village. “It’s a way of honouring the film as it’s been so good to Cong over the years,” said Luskin.
Provided funding become available, the committee hope that the statues would be in place this October before the ending of the Quiet Man Gathering 2013. Speculating on the delay in funding approval, Mr Luskin said a delay in confirmation would be down to a backlog as a result of the recent embargo. The committee will await a decision after the next LEADER meeting on May 30, next. “We won’t know anything until after this meeting but hopefully have good news,” concluded Mr Luskin.
The committee are consulting with Paramount Pictures and are also looking to make contact with actress, Maureen O’Hara in relation to the planned project.

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