Funding secured for ‘Summer Bash’

FUNDING has been secured to ensure that a popular festival will return to Coalisland this summer, a meeting of Mid Ulster District Council has heard.

Councillors were informed at the local authority’s monthly meeting that the popular Summer Bash will be back – and that money will be secured every year to ensure that it can take place.

This follows representation from Cllr Nuala McLernon, who had been lobbying council officers for its return.

She commented at the meeting, “I have spoken to the chief executive and the officers in relation to seeing the Summer Bash rolled back out again this year, and included in the corporate events going forward.

“Can I ask officer tonight if there’s any updates in relation to the request, and if they can see this being rolled out this year and included in the forthcoming corporate events?”

A senior council officer replied, “Yes, there is an update.

“There is a report coming back into Development Committee in April, and we have managed to secure the resources in year to run that event.”

Cllr Dan Kerr was delighted to hear the news, and he explained that he was keen to see the Summer Bash return as an annual event.

“Personally, I was sad to see that the event was cut in the 2023 rates budget,” he said.

“I’d like the propose that this event is budgeted in every future council budget, because I personally don’t believe that the event should have been removed.”

His recommendation was carried at the meeting.