The County Promotion Unit at South Dublin County Council are dedicated to supporting events and festivals that will drive tourism and help to develop the visitor experience on offer in the area. The aim is to fund innovative

events/festivals centred around food, culture, sport, and activity that will increase bed nights and stimulate the local economy.

The funding available for the Tourism Events and Festivals Grant in 2025 is €80,000.

This funding programme is aimed at organisations and event organisers who plan to hold a public event or festival in South Dublin County Council’s administrative area and who require financial assistance via public funds to deliver the event/festival. This event must aim to attract tourists to the county.

• Sporting/Recreational Groups

• History/Heritage/Cultural Groups

• Music / Arts and Theatre

• Accommodation/bar/restaurant owners and other business groups

• Craft/Culinary Groups

• Events and Festival Organisers

• Community Groups

• Business and Education Organisations

• Other

The maximum available grant will be €7,500. Payment of any grant value will be subject to meeting the objectives and criteria of the scheme and will have regard for the scale and potential for recurrence of the event and will also be related to the number of out of county and overseas visitors/spectators in attendance. Subject to availability of funding and having regard to the number of applications received, it is proposed that the maximum levels of funding will be:

• €20 per out of county visitor subject to a maximum of €4,000.

• €35 per out of country visitor subject to a maximum of €3,500.

• Accommodation/bar/restaurant owners and other business groups

• History/Heritage/Cultural Groups

• Craft/Culinary Groups

• Events and Festival Organisers

• Music / Arts and Theatre

• Sporting/Recreational Groups

• Community Groups

• Business and Education Organisations

• Other

Any individual business or group of businesses including, but not necessarily limited to:

• €20 per out of county visitor subject to a maximum of €2,500.

• €35 per out of country visitor subject to a maximum of €5,000.

 

·     Only one application per event will be considered.

·     The name on the grant application must match the name on the bank account receiving funds.

·     The official name of the event must be stated in the application and used consistently in all promotional materials, reporting, and branding.

·     A valid Tax Clearance Certificate must be provided as part of the application.

·     Applications must be submitted online at least 4 weeks in advance of proposed.

·     event date.

·     Statutory agencies ARE NOT ELIGIBLE to apply.

·     Compliance with current legislation and financial regulations including provision.

·     of current Tax Clearance Certificate and evidence of organiser's bank details.

·     Applicants must include proof of appropriate insurance coverage for the event, and South Dublin County Council must be indemnified where appropriate to the value of €6.5million public liability and €13million employers’ liability.

·     Applications must include a clear budget detailing how the grant will be used.

·     A comprehensive post event report must be submitted within 14 days of the event.

·     All events must include South Dublin County Council & Dublin Outdoors branding in marketing materials.

·     The grant will only be disbursed upon verification of compliance with all terms and submission of the post event report.

·     Partial payments may be considered based on evidence of progress or costs incurred.

·     Compliance and Audit: 

·     South Dublin County Council reserves the right to audit any event funded by the grant to ensure compliance.

·     Any noncompliance may result in recovery of funds and ineligibility for future grants.

·     Applications must be submitted by the stated deadline.

·     Decisions will be communicated within a specified period after submission.

·     Grant recipients must adhere to timelines for reporting and branding compliance.

·     Applications are open to event organisers, businesses, community groups, and cultural organisations based in South Dublin or hosting events in the region.

·     Attract domestic and international visitors to the area.

·     Increase bed-nights and stimulate the local economy.

·     Enhance the County's tourism offering by supporting a varied seasonal programme of events across the county, throughout the year.

·     Proposals must clearly demonstrate potential to generate economic, social, and/or cultural benefits.

·     Promote South Dublin as a tourism destination.

·     Provide measurable benefits to the local community and economy.

·     Demonstrate potential to attract visitors and/or engage the local population.

·     Fringe events and workshops related to the main event are encouraged.

·     Proof of public liability insurance must be provided, with South Dublin County Council indemnified where appropriate.

·     A detailed marketing plan must be submitted, outlining how the event will be promoted locally and nationally.

·     Applicants who have previously received grants must demonstrate compliance with reporting and branding requirements to be eligible for future funding.

·     Adhering to public health measures

·     The applicant must be fully compliant, competent, and aware of event management requirements and all relevant legislation.

•      Applications will be assessed based on the information supplied in the standard application form.

•      Shortlisted applicants will be notified in writing.

•      Funding is limited and there is no guarantee of funding for events which achieve the minimum eligibility criteria.

•      Previous awarding of funding is not an indication that future funding will be secured.

•      An award of funding in 2025 will not be an indication that funding will be awarded in future years.

•      Successful applicants must comply with South Dublin County Council’s and Dublin’s Outdoors brand guidelines.

•      This application relates solely to funding of a festival/event and does not replace or negate any necessary processes or negotiation with South Dublin County Council related to the event/festival.

•      Successful applicants must comply with any reasonable request regarding publicity from South Dublin County Council.

•      The Grant will be paid post event, applicants must submit a report on completion of the event to include evidence of:

•      income and expenditure visitor numbers and origins

•      Dublin’s Outdoors branding on promotional materials

•      compliance with criteria outlined above.

•      South Dublin County Council reserves right to inspect/verify any details relevant to the award of grant.

•      Applicants must have inclusive policies and practices.

•      Applicants must demonstrate their ability to operate in line with public health measures.

 

To apply for the scheme please submit your online application here www.submit.link/eF.

 You will need to have the following information to hand:

• Details of the event

• Organiser's details

• Marketing plan

• Projected income and expenditure

• Proof of insurance

• Event management safety plan

• Insurance details

Please note that although there is no closing date for applications there is limited funding available. In the event the number of applications exceeds the value of the overall fund, preference will be given to the events / festivals that in the Council’s view drives tourism and helps to develop the visitor experience on offer in the area.

Queries in relation to this scheme should be emailed to econdev@sdublincoco.ie