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As facts and figures pointing to the huge success of Armagh’s Georgian Day festival were being discussed, at last Tuesday’s, 11 March Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Economic Development & Regeneration committee meeting, some councillors remarked that non-council events such as the Tandragee 100 enjoyed no such support from the local authority.
In fact, Alderman Mark Baxter, Lagan River DEA pointed out that what he saw as excessive red tape had nearly led to the cancellation of this year’s edition of the Tandragee 100.
“We get those groups coming to us every year who are applying for funding, and at the final hour, because they haven’t signed a bit of paper or they haven’t done something correctly because they are volunteers, we’ve had to let them down at the last minute,” he said.
“We saw it recently with the Tandragee 100, where there wasn’t a signed document or something, and there was an issue.
“That’s a massive event which I would call a signature event in the borough. That nearly wasn’t going to take place because of that error, so I think council have a role actually in working with these bigger events within the borough.”
Director of Development, Community & Wellbeing, Paul Tamati said this would be taken on board: “We have an Events working group planned for April 3, and we’re happy to bring that through that working group for further discussion.”
Alderman Paul Berry, Cusher DEA echoed Ald Baxter’s plea for more support from the council, when it comes to major events organised by volunteers, as opposed to the local authority.
He stated: “I look forward to the working group. I think this is something that has come up continually.
“You have the like of Tandragee 100, and because of a signature, the like of that there could have turned out to be a disaster.
“Two weeks before that particular event, the volunteers are out every night. They work during the day and then they’re out during the evening time, to try and get everything set up for one day.
“All they’re asking for is 10 grand, but every time they have to apply for it. For the Twelfth and Thirteenth, the same. For the Thirteenth [in Scarva], the insurance for that day alone goes up every time.
“We have international visitors that come on that particular day with 100,000 people, and I think we are getting to a stage where we’re scraping at the barrel.
“And the Armagh Show is another prime example where, in my humble opinion, it’s a signature event.
“The council is promoted very positively through this, through the Food Heartland and through other initiatives, and I know when I attended the launch last year there was quite a high praise for the efforts and work that the council put into it, in a partnership level with the organisers of the show.
“So it’s not that they’re working against us and we’re working against them, it’s very much a partnership, but when one looks at what they’re being funded potentially this year, it’s half of what they’ve applied for.
“Is that acceptable? No it’s not, because it costs a fortune for them to run that.
“So I do believe we really need to take a real good look at this. How do we actually support these groups from constantly having to apply and crossing all fingers and thumbs, [wondering if they’re] going to get 10 grand to run an event that’s costing them thousands to run.
Newry based Around a Pound are headline sponsors for 2025. Anne Forsythe, Club Secretary said “We are delighted that Around-A-Pound is confirmed as this year’s title sponsor. Gerard and Siobhan have been very supportive towards both the Club and the event for nearly 20 years, and we are thrilled to be continuing that relationship in 2025. The event just would not be the same without them, they have not only contributed significantly in a financial way since 2005, but been ‘hands on’ with course set up and on occasion offered advice and support when needed.
"I’d also like to encourage the public to get behind our sponsors and support them, as well as the event. With our budget rising to over £150,000 and insurance increases over the past few years everyone who gives a donation or buys a programme are also making an important contribution to our event, alongside the 500 volunteers who make the event possible”.
The Around a Pound Tandragee 100 road race is later this year, taking place on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28 2025.
