Mayflower Centre lost out on thousands after cancelling Míse Éire festival, says Chairman
The Mayflower community centre lost out on €2000 by cancelling the Míse Éire festival, which was set to take place next week in the venue.
The Mayflower Community Centre missed out on €2,000 by cancelling the controversial Míse Éire festival that was due to take place there in August.
The event was billed as a music and folk festival for “those who cherish Irish culture and heritage, and are united in celebrating our shared values.” However, it received criticism due to the views of some of the scheduled speakers.
“On behalf of Mayflower Community Centre CLG, we regretfully wish to inform the public that the upcoming ‘Míse Éire’ festival, due to be held on 23rd August 2025, will NOT be hosted at the Mayflower Community Centre," the Mayflower said in a Facebook post announcing the cancellation earlier this month.
They added: "This was due to terms and conditions not being met by the organisers."
The festival has been a point of controversy, with a petition gathering 260 signatures on Drumshanbo’s main street, and a letter signed by over 550 local and national musicians and actors opposing the event being sent to the committee the week before the cancellation.
The chairman of the committee, Sean Wynne, spoke out against the cancellation of the festival last week in an interview with Philip Dwyer, right-wing influencer and self-described journalist.
“It is there for the community to use. We have a history of never refusing anybody, left, right, or centre,” he said.
“What never actually came out was the amount that was being paid for one day rental of it, these people were prepared to pay €2,000,” he said, adding: “That is a lot of money for the community.”
Cllr Brendan Barry, a member of the Mayflower Community Committee, highlighted the community-based and inclusive nature of the venue.
“This event has already caused massive division, and it hasn’t even taken place yet, which is very regrettable. In my opinion, that alone shows the possible division, fear, and hate it could have caused had it gone ahead,” said the councillor, who expressed the view that the festival should never have been booked in the first place.
The Míse Éire festival, which has sold out, is still scheduled to take place at an undisclosed location outside Castlebar in August.