Sales & Marketing

Irish events lift economy

Almost 300,000 overseas visitors attended events in Ireland over a 12-month period through to the end of February 2016, according to a new study.

The report, ‘Let’s Celebrate 2017: the Cultural and Economic Contribution of Live Entertainment Events in Ireland’, said that live events in Ireland generated a total turnover of €1.7bn (£1.4/$1.8bn) over the period.

The study added that for every €1 spent on a concert, festival or show, some €6.06 is generated for the wider economy.

The Irish events industry supported employment for nearly 11,500 people over the year.

Of nearly three million tickets sold for live events in the Republic of Ireland, 2,262,090 were for music gigs, 860,946 were for arts, theatre and comedy events, and 293,375 were for family events and exhibitions. A total of €1.3bn was generated by live events in the Republic.

Justin Green, of Wide Awake Communications, which carried out the study, told the Irish Independent newspaper that the entertainment industry is “frequently overlooked” when its impact on the economy is considered.

“It is not always respected as the viable and tangible professional industry that it is, unlike many other similar fields,” he said.