Council brings tourism funding over the line.

November 4, 2021

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has awarded over £32k of grant funding to major tourism events in the council area. The most recent event to benefit from the fund is Down Royal Festival of Racing, taking place on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th October. 

Down Royal Racecourse is Northern Ireland’s leading horse racing venue and will bring thousands of domestic and out-of-state visitors to the council area.

Other events supported by the council’s grant fund were Hillsborough Honey Fair which took place in August, the School Summit and Belfast Dog Show Society Championship Dog Show which happened earlier this month, and the British Athletics Cross Channel Series scheduled to take place on 22nd January 2022.

Chair of LCCC’s Development Committee, Alderman Amanda Grehan, said: “Tourism contributes significantly to the success of our local economy. I’m delighted that the council has been able to support such a variety of tourism events this year.

“These events have been spread across the Lisburn Castlereagh area, bringing revenue, creating jobs and strengthening the area’s appeal as a key tourist and visitor destination.”

Emma Meehan, CEO of Down Royal Racecourse, said:” We are delighted to have obtained the support of our local council for what is our biggest event of the year The Ladbrokes Festival of Racing, an event which will bring over 7,000 visitors from all over Northern Ireland, ROI and GB to the Lisburn area, we are very grateful to the council for their support.”