HOPES AIRSHOW SET TO TAKE – OFF

TALKS TO BRING FESTIVAL OF FLIGHT BACK TO RESORT

Talks are to take place to discuss the potentail return of the International Festival of Flight to Newcastle next Summer.

Local politicians are to meet shortly to discuss the districts tourism events calander for the next 12 months and the highly acclaimed flagship tourism event which features the RAF Red Devils aerobatic display team will be on the agenda. (Admin note- Red Arrows not Devils)

Last month a call for the premier tourism event to be cleared for take off after being grounded in 2019 due to lack of cash was issued at Newry, Mourne and Down Councils’ annual rates meeting.

A working group comprising of local councillers is to meet to discuss a district wide tourism events programme for the next year and while the Festival of Flight will not take place this summer a call for officers to buckle themselves in to ensure it takes off in 2025 will be made.

The hugely popular festival attracted over 100,000 people to the resort and provided a major economic boost for the town and the wider district, generating in excess of over £1m for the economy.

Some politicians plan to make the case for the return of the Festival of Flight and hope it will be chocs away next summer.

The last Festival of Flight was held just months before the deadly Covid-19 pandemic spread across the globe.

While Newcaste hosted the highly sucessful Eats and Beats festival for the past two years some politicans believe this event could run alongside the airshow to create a mega tourism weekend unrivialed anywhere in Ireland.

Newry Mourne & Down Council has confirmed that a workshop is being orginised to discuss the districts tourism events programme.

The Iconic Airshow, which takes place against the stunning backdrop of the Mourne Mountains and Dundrum bay is far and away the districts biggest tourism event attracting visitors from across the provence and further afield, generating a huge economic uplift.

Council officers have previously committed to compile an updated budget estimate for the Festival of Flight and liase with the local authorities previous partners who helped orginise the event and provide sponsorship.

At this months council rates meeting when the district rate was increased by 6.41%, Rowallane DUP Cllr Jonny Jackson called on the local authority to establish a working group to look at specifically at the return to Newcastle of the International Air Show.

“We are all aware of the district investment and economic value of these events, and for many, the Festival of Flight was seen as one of the districts flagship events.” he said.

He called on council officers to work to restore the event, proposing the formation of a working group to focus on the festival, looking at the challenges and the pathway to pave for its return.

Cllr Jackson confirmed this week that he had spoken to senior council officials about the return of the airshow, widely regarded as one of the provinces best run events.

“There are many people across the district, Northern Ireland and further afield who are keen to see the return of the festival which is a magnificant spectacle and major income generator for Newcastle and the districts wider economy” he said.

“People are crying out for the Festival’s return and I hope it happens. Newcastle is set to host the Irish Open this summer and how fantastic would it be to follow that with the Festival of Flight in 2025?”

Cllr Jackson added “The publicity both events would generate and the boost to the economy is imessurable and I hope the working group meeting heralds the start of the journey that will result in the Festival of Flight taking to the skies again in Newcastle next summer”

A Newry Mourne and Down council spokeswoman confirmed the organistion is orginising a workshop with all Cllrs to discuss the districts events for 2024/25.

By David Telford.

Hopes flagship Festival of Flight could take-off

7 February 2024 via Down Recorder

A CALL for the district’s premier flagship tourist event to be cleared for take off after being grounded since 2019 was issued at Monday night’s rates meeting.

Council officers have been asked to set up a working group to look at paving the way for the return of the international Festival of Flight which regularly featured the Red Arrows.

The event attracted over 100,000 people to the resort and provided a major economic boost for the the town and wider district.

Rowallane councillor Jonny Jackson – the leader of the local authority’s DUP members – tabled the proposal to establish the working group while he formally supported the decision to hike the district rate by 6.41%.

Cllr Jackson said his party was committed to securing the lowest possible rate, in the context of considerable external pressures, with a responsibility on parties to scrutinise, question and consider the decisions which directly affect the lives of residents across the district.

But he said the DUP could not in good conscience inflict cuts, no matter how minimal, on community and volunteer organisations which rely on financial support from the council via so-called service level agreements.

He continued: “We are all aware of the direct investment and economic value of these events and, for many, the Festival of Flight was seen as one of this district’s flagship events.

“Tonight, we take the opportunity to call on council officers to work to restore the event and propose forming a working group with focus on this event, the challenges and the pathway to seeing it returned,” he said.

Cllr Jackson said his party was confident that the new district rate protected vital council contributions to community projects.

The festival was grounded in 2019 due to a lack of cash, with Cllr Jackson hoping the creation of the working group will ensure it will be chocks away.

Last year, the DUP expressed disappointment that the international festival had been grounded, describing it as an “iconic event” for Newcastle.