The failure of the national media, particularly RTE and Virgin Media, to cover Louth’s Brigid 1500 celebrations has been criticised by Dundalk councillor Maeve Yore.
The Independent councillor has written to both RTE and Virgin Media asking them why they didn’t provide any coverage of the spectacular Northern Lights Brigid series which attracted over 55,000 visitors to Dundalk.
"The Brigid 1500 was phenomenal for Louth with the Northern Lights, the Lady of the Lights show in An Táin, the art exhibition, the Brigid of Faughart festival, the Candlelight procession at Faughart, all the walks, talks and community events. It was fabulous,” she said.
She raised the issue at the February meeting of Dundalk Municipal District which was held in Faughart community national school in honour of the 1500th anniversary of the death of St Brigid, asking if the national media had a bias against Dundalk when it comes to covering positive events.
She also wants Fáilte Ireland to be questioned about what events it promoted in relation to the events taking place around the country for the Brigid 1500 celebrations.
"Why weren’t the national media covering what was happening in Louth and why didn’t Fáilte Ireland promote it?”
She believes the success of the festival, which received huge support locally, is something that should be built on in future years.
“We had tour guide Eunan Smyth who brought a group of women who were visiting Ireland for a week to Dundalk for a day. They were from New Jersey and called themselves The Sisters of St Brigid from and wore green sashes and got a great welcome in Dundalk,” she said.
"Going forward, we need to be inviting American and UK tour operators to Louth and letting them know well in advance what’s happening.”