Manx fire festival called off over funding issues

The festival has been held on Peel Beach in previous years

A fire festival held on a beach in the west of the Isle of Man has been called off due to funding issues.

Oie Voaldyn, a two-day event based on old Manx customs to celebrate the return of summer, was due to take place in May.

Peel Commissioners said they would withdraw £6000 of funding if organiser John Shakespeare were to hold the event with new sponsors the Fynoderee Distillery and Bushy's.

The local authority raised concerns about using ratepayers’ money, including business rates, to fund an event supported by two businesses that were not based in the town.

A spokesman said the board had "always been supportive" of the event and confirmed it would have continued to offer administrative support and a labour workforce if it had gone ahead with private funding.

However, commissioners raised concerns local businesses "wouldn’t get as much footfall" as the main corporate sponsors, he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Organisers say around 6,000 people attend the fire festival

Mr Shakespeare said the costs of putting on of the event, which also receives financial support from the government and Culture Vannin, had "increased significantly" to £20,000 since the coronavirus pandemic.

He said was "disappointed" in the decision made by the local authority which had resulted in the cancellation.

It was a "shame for Peel" but he wanted to work with the local authority, which was "integral to event" to resume the festival in future, he said.

A survey after the 2022 event by the organisers found £60,000 had been generated for the town, he said.