Fire Festival set to return after funding secured

The event will return to Peel Beach on 4 May 2025

A fire festival in the west of the Isle of Man will return next year after funding issues forced the cancellation of the 2024 event, organisers have said.

Peel Commissioners had withdrawn £6,000 of funding over concerns two alcohol traders from outside of the town were confirmed as sponsors of Oie Voaldyn.

But a jewellery firm from St Johns has since offered financial support to the festival, which is based on old Manx customs celebrating the return of summer.

Organiser John Shakespeare said the funding had “secured the future” of the event, set to be held on Peel Beach on 4 May 2025.

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

'All systems go'

The main attraction sees people gather along the promenade to watch over about 300 fire torchbearers process to the shore in choreographed parades at dusk.

Announcing the return of the festival, Mr Shakespeare said the match with Element Isle was a "perfect fit" as the business was based near to the host town and the owners had been involved in the parade in the past.

The "outpouring of love and support" for for the event over recent months had been "brilliant", he said.

The team now had a year to "plan well ahead" so it was "all systems go" to make "the 2025 festival better than ever", he added.

A spokesman for Peel Commissioners said the board had "always been very supportive" of the event and was pleased it would be returning to the town next year.

The local authority confirmed it would provide assistance to the organisers in the form of marshals and administrative support, and would also contribute £6000 to the event's running costs.