By:
Brian McDonald - Irish Times
Decision to accept sponsorship funding was strongly criticised by Mayo campaign group
The organisers of Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann have bowed to pressure and rejected sponsorship of the annual traditional music festival by oil giant, Shell.
The Standing Committee of Fleadh 2014 which takes place in Sligo throughout next week took the decision at a meeting today.
The committee had come under severe pressure after the Shell to Sea group strongly criticised the decision to accept sponsorship from Shell in light of the controversy surrounding its development of the Corrib Gas field off the neighbouring north Mayo coast.
Shell to Sea, which has actively opposed the massive gas terminal and pipeline project in Bellanaboy, accused Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann of prostituting itself and reneging on its ideal of promoting peace.
The group also claimed that Comhaltas had put President Higgins in the “awkward position” of formally opening an event sponsored by Shell. The President spoke out on a number of occasions before his election on the impact of the Shell development on the lives of local people.
Posted Date:
6 August 2014