Organisers of Sult Music Festival hoping music fans support event

By Sabrina Sweeney

The Chairman of Sult Music Festival, Pearse Doherty, is hoping the music lovers of Gaoth Dobhair and throughout Donegal show their support for this year’s Sultfeile, otherwise it might be the last.

The not-for-profit festival takes place in Magheragallon from tomorrow, Friday until Sunday with a range of acts across Friday and Saturday while a family day and children’s entertainment has been added to the line-up on Sunday along with the all important Donegal versus Galway game on the big screen.

The acts, including British rapper and chart-topper Example, Irish DJ Welshy and Donegal’s Hannah B on Friday and Irish rock band Bell X1 and Red Hot Chilli Pipers on Saturday, are impressive and have the potential to attract big crowds.

However, like so many festivals throughout the island of Ireland, Sult is feeling the effects of the financial squeeze which has forced many to
either cancel or shut down completely.

“We’ve seen 10 festivals close down this year. It’s no secret that festivals are getting hammered because costs are going up and people’s behaviours are changing; some people don’t want to camp, some are spending more money going to other concerts, so there are lots of reasons,” said Mr Doherty.

“When we started our music costs were €15,000. Now we are spending over €150,000 on music and production because we want to bring the professionalism of the likes of the Marley Park gigs to Gaoth Dobhair,” he added.

Last year, the Donegal TD and festival founder revealed Sultfeile made a loss and was “thousands of euro down”. It was down to the hard work of the festival committee in the months following the event that additional funds were raised to recoup the costs.

He appealed to the local community to come out and support this year’s festival; otherwise it might not go ahead next year.

“Sult is an opportunity to see top class acts on your doorstep but it won’t continue if people don’t come. It’s as simple as that,” he said.

Since Covid, the financial pressures involved in staging music festivals have grown, including rising costs for insurance, artists’ fees and other charges, many of which have to be paid in advance.

“We hope for early ticket sales as we depend on people buying tickets to be able to pay the upfront costs.” In the absence of ticket sales, Mr Doherty said committee members and people in the community have generously offered loans to cover upfront costs.

Despite the difficult environment in which the festival is operating, Mr Doherty said he remains excited about the weekend ahead, adding that there is something for everyone.

Organisers have broken up the days to appeal to different audiences and Friday is geared towards a younger crowd while it’s anticipated Saturday will attract an older audience.

“Our act on Friday night, Example, is headlining a huge festival in Glasgow the following night so a private plane will be landing in Carrickfinn and staying to take him to Glasgow when he’s finished his performance at Sult.

“He is a big draw and it’s huge for Gaoth Dobhair to get an act like that. That’s the rationale of this year’s festival. Our job is to give a platform to up and coming acts and it’s great to be able to support local as well as national and international acts.”

“We are a not for profit, we want to bring great music and a great production to Gaoth Dobhair and for people all over Donegal to come and enjoy,” he said.

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