Released on = February 9, 2006, 10:33 am

Press Release Author = AOIFE

Industry = Entertainment

Press Release Summary = Minister for Arts Sport and Tourism John O\'Donoghue TD today
launched the annual yearbook directory of over 400 Irish festivals all members of
AOIFE the Association of Irish Festival Events

Press Release Body = Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism John O\'Donoghue TD today
launched the 2006 Association of Irish Festivals Events (AOIFE) yearbook/directory.
The Minister acknowledged the pivotal role that festivals play in the arts, culture,
tourism, economic and community development of the country. The Minister went on to
praise the Directory and the continuing work of AOIFE describing the publication as
“an essential reference point for festival and events organisers”.

AOIFE Chairman Maria Moynihan pointed out that over seven million people attend
Irish festivals every year which cost in the region of €170 million to produce and
run. “Economically Irish Festivals return about 70 cents in every euro to the local
community and in tourism terms are critical in sustaining our unique cultural
tourism product with over a third of all visitors attending our festivals coming
from overseas.”

“Our Government, our society - our community, cultural and tourism sectors are all
benefiting from the role and impact of our members - however it is not possible to
run either the largest festival event in the country or indeed the smallest, without
volunteers and this publication is a recognition of the efforts of more than 45,000
festival volunteers the length and breadth of the country who toil at the coal face
to produce world class events for their audiences and communities,” added Ms.
Moynihan.

The 2006 AOIFE Yearbook/Directory contains all the dates, details and information on
the 400 festivals that will take place in 2006 and supplements AOIFE\'s website
www.aoifeonline.com.

A.O.I.F.E. is the all island resource network of festival events - arts, cultural,
heritage, civic, tourist and community. With over 400 active members ranging from
Dublin\'s hallmark festival event - the St. Patrick\'s Festival to some of the
smaller niche events like the Cape Clear Storytelling festival but encompassing all
genre of festivals and events in between. It is supported by over 65 Corporate
members - suppliers to the sector and 45 Associate members of the network - Local
Authorities, Academic and Cultural Institutions and many tourism and travel
organisations.

The primary role of A.O.I.F.E. is to support and assist festivals with their
programmes, working with the elements of Government and the public sector in
understanding the whole area and its possibilities, and providing a wide variety of
services to its members to allow Irish festivals and events to operate to Best
International Practice.


Web Site = http://www.aoifeonline.com

Contact Details = Maria Moynihan