ORANGE City Council will form a community committee to organise an Orange Irish Festival, but opinions are split on whether the idea will work.
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Councillor Kevin Duffy raised the idea at Tuesday night’s meeting, saying it would create more activity in the CBD and boost tourism.
“I would envision there would be Irish dancing and … night markets could be incorporated at the right time of year,” he said.
However, councillor Russell Turner wondered whether the idea was 30 years too late.
“I can’t remember going to a citizenship ceremony in the last 10 years where there’s been anyone from Ireland – there’s very few from the United Kingdom anymore,” he said.
Councillor Joanne McRae asked to defer the item, querying whether the council would be taking on a load before it had the necessary information.
She noted the council knocked back pursuing the Australian Local Government Women’s Association conference due to finite staff resources.
“Tullamore has done a fantastic job over the last 16 years with its Irish festival,” she said.
“It put a boost into the community when they were in drought, but it was done by volunteers.”
Councillor Stephen Nugent pointed out Orange already had the Masala Festival and NAIDOC Week.
However, councillor Glenn Taylor did not think a feasibility study was possible.
“Otherwise the Elvis Festival wouldn’t have gotten off the ground, it took two or three years before it gained momentum,” he said.
“People tend to think of Irish festivals as great times and I think everyone could get involved.”
The Tullamore Irish Music Festival, which this year featured John Williamson, announced there would not be a 2019 festival owing to difficulties forming a committee.
In 2016, there were 32 current residents who were born in Ireland, the biggest group arriving between 1956 and 1965, with 10 per cent of the population having Irish ancestry.
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