The Arts Council has announced €1,258,187 in funding as part of the latest round of its Festival Investment Scheme.

The scheme is in two annual rounds, for the first and second half of the year, and 78 festivals were funded in Round 2. The average award was €16,130, an increase of 18% on the previous year.

Among the music festivals funded are Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival, Westport Festival of Chamber Music, Clare Island Folk Festival, Sligo Festival of Baroque Music and the John Dwyer Trad Festival.

The new Keep Her Lit! folk and traditional music festival in Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny, was also funded for the first time.

Commenting on the funding, Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council, said:

This latest round of the Festival Investment Scheme sees a record number of projects and programmes supported across the country with the most significant financial commitment in local festivals to date. 

Festivals play a central role in the life of their communities and in 2022 the festival projects that have been supported will play their part in bringing communities back together again; reflecting their stories, histories and experiences through the arts. 

For the full list of festivals see below. For more, visit www.artscouncil.ie.