Hopes Ebrington Square event limit could be lifted 'in the near future'

Derry and Strabane Council hopes to see 'the current cap on events' in Ebrington Square 'lifted in the near future'.

As of October last year up to five major events were to take place in the square in 2024, down from the 10 to 12 which had been discussed before the controversy according to site owner The Executive Office.

The comment was made by Councillor Rory Farrell at Council's Business and Culture Committee Meeting during a deputation by Stephen Kelly, Chief Executive of Manufacturing NI.

Mr Kelly's deputation was focused on what Council could do to build a stronger calendar of events. He previously presented a report to Council on the subject, which he was asked to do as an independent figure with experience in the sector.

He said events are 'really powerful economic drivers’.

“They are probably some of the most important and powerful means where people can connect with places and with spaces and with each other and particularly for this district which has a reputation for them,” Mr Kelly said.

“It changes the way people view the community where they reside, but also the impression that people have of the community when they visit here as well.”

When he consulted people in the event sector for the 2022 report he said there was a perception that their role was being diminished or that they were being 'pushed out'.

“When we looked at the key identified issues that were largely centred around availability of space both physical and in programming, appreciation for the investments that people make and the risks that they take in terms of making those investments, issues around planning and sustainability, the costs associated with this and an inconsistency in terms of approach.”

He said Ebrington Square being returned to local use was one of the recommendations from the 2022 report and that Council should be looking at other suitable physical spaces.

Reputation

He commended Council's work in finding a suitable space for Fatboy Slim’s show 'with precision and at pace' but said '2023 undoubtedly damaged the reputation of the city' as a place for events 'given the issues at Ebrington'.

“But that is recoverable. We have already seen that there's a process in place for events in 2024 and Council is working closely with promoters in that space to ensure those are successful events,” he added.

Cllr Farrell said he is hopeful the controversy in 2023 is now behind them.

“We share your concern about Ebrington. Obviously it has been discussed in the chamber on numerous occasions. We are hopeful that there are going to be events at Ebrington this year. Events in 2025 and 2026, change is coming hopefully and we hope that the current cap on events in that space is lifted in the near future,” the SDLP councillor said.

Cllr Shauna Cusack said retaining local talent and utilising them in events is crucial to driving up tourism to the city.

“We're exporting talent in every sector, outside of this city., which is very unfortunate and we really have to look at how to retain that,” the SDLP councillor said. “What brings the tourists is events. What brings a wonderful feeling of a good, prosperous and cohesive community is events at the end of the day. What is happening around you is what people are interested in.”

Cllr John Mc Gowan, who is also Chair of the Nerve Centre, said there are no suitable venues across the city 'for certain events'.

“I think we do need to get around the table. The city is a musical city. We didn't build on the legacy of the City of Culture. It definitely hasn't been built on enough, in my opinion, on music,” the Sinn Féin councillor said.

“There's a lot of young people in the city that are leaving this town to go outside to other music events.

“If there's things that we're doing wrong, we need to hear them.”

He added that there is huge financial benefit to successful events being held in the city.

Cllr Farrell proposed a meeting with Council Members and Officers and representatives of the events sector to agree 'specific, time bound measures to try and improve things'.

Cllr Cusack seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.