Call made for multi-stakeholder group to manage Derry's Ebrington Square

A call has made for a multi-stakeholder group to manage Derry's Ebrington Square.

Currently The Executive Office (TEO) holds responsibility for the management of the former military parade square.

Aontú Foyle general election candidate John Boyle made the call following the news that only one major summer event will be held in the outdoor venue.

Scottish DJ Ewan McVicar and 1970s disco legends Sister Sledge were due to headline the two-day Jika Jika Festival next weekend in Ebrington Square, however the event has now been moved to the venue used to host Fatboy Slim in Pennyburn Industrial Estate last October.

Organisers said that due to slow ticket sales the event had to be moved. 

New arrangements for events at the Ebrington site in 2024 came into effect last year after a dispute when four concerts had their permission withdrawn by TEO.

That followed a threat of legal action by the Ebrington Hotel. The gigs were then approved after the hotel dropped its objection following a public backlash.

A maximum of five outdoor concerts each year are now allowed under the new arrangements.

Derry City and Strabane District Council now manages the applications of promoters hoping to hold events at the site, while responsibility for event management remains with The Executive Office.

Mr Boyle said: "This week we have yet another disappointment over the staging of events in Ebrington Square. It is clear the despite protests by ordinary people around the management of the site, the Executive Office management of the site remains the primary obstacle that means this site cannot fulfil its full potential.

"It would now also seem that parties used empty words in promising there would be change when the Council sought to engage further on the site - there has been no change whatsoever. 

"Until the Executive Office gives up managing the site, there will be no fundamental change in the running of the site for the people of Derry. 

"This is the only former military site bought by the Executive that is still being run directly by civil servants - we would contend this is because certain elements want to maintain some form of political control on its use.

"Event organisers have been clear in telling us that the current arrangements do not meet industry standards, they put pressure on organisers in terms of timeframes and availability and they must have a central voice in the management going forward.

"The Executive Office has to go."