Yore seeks answers on Fleadh costs as Louth budget approved

An increased budget of €203.7 million was passed at the Annual Budget Meeting in County Hall last week, the increase will support grant funded community projects, emergency services, housing initiatives and capital projects. 

Whilst Independent Councillor Maeve Yore proposed and voted to pass the 2026 Budget she raised, as she and other Councillor’s have done since Fleadh Ceoil na hEireann Drogheda events in 2018/2019, the cost of €1.2 million on Louth taxpayers to host the Fleadh.

Councillor Yore requested reassurances that financial oversight procedures are strengthened and in place with independent financial risk assessments carried out before approving major expenditure. 

Councillor Yore said: “Louth taxpayers expect transparent decision making and responsible financial oversight and since 2018/19 I and 15 other Councillors voted against the €100k per annum until debt is cleared repeatedly requesting to see the breakdown of the costs and to see the audited accounts for the Fleadh as we can’t ’write off’ such a huge debt without seeing where the €1.2million was spent. 

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“Auditors have raised the need to address this debt and we are now left with no option. I do feel the cost to the taxpayers of hosting Fleadh Ceoil na hEireann is an issue across each local authority and county that needs explanation and addressing.