Festivals Owed Over €400,000 by Collapsed Tickets.ie Call for Legal Safeguards
Two Irish festivals are owed over €400,000 by the collapsed ticketing platform Tickets.ie, prompting legal action and calls for new legislation. Organizers seek government support and safeguards to protect ticket revenues, fearing for their future and significant economic losses. Minister Peter Burke acknowledged potential regulatory gaps and committed to reviewing client fund protections.
Two Irish festivals, the Rory Gallagher Festival in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, and the Cowboys and Heroes Festival in Leitrim, are owed over €400,000 in ticket sales following the collapse of Tickets.ie. The Rory Gallagher Festival is owed approximately €283,000, and the Cowboys and Heroes Festival is owed over €130,000. Both festivals have initiated legal proceedings to recover the lost revenue.
Tickets.ie, one of Ireland's largest ticketing platforms, ceased trading and entered liquidation after the June Bank Holiday weekend. Simon Power, Managing Director of the Cowboys and Heroes Festival, described the situation as «absolutely devastating,» noting that the company ceased operations the day after their festival concluded. He expressed concern about potential debt into 2027 and called for legislation to compel ticket agents to ring-fence client funds, similar to practices for auctioneers and solicitors.
Johnny «Boxty» Gallagher, spokesperson for the 23-year-old Rory Gallagher Festival, stated the situation has «cast a shadow» over its future. William Doogan of the Ballyshannon Business Chamber highlighted the festival's €5-7 million annual economic contribution and urged short-term government support and a credit insurance system for regional festival promoters. Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny echoed calls for legislation to protect ticket funds, comparing it to client accounts in other industries.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke acknowledged the issue in the Dáil, noting potential regulatory gaps regarding client funds. He stated the government would investigate to ensure maximum protection for client money held by organizations.