430k Fleadh figure countslocals as well as visitors

SOME of the 430,000 people reported to have visited the Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann visited from Kilfennan and Creggan and weren’t actually physically counted by anyone, the Sentinel has learned.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Sep 2013, 16:59 BST
Eamonn Holmes puts his best foot forward during the Children in Crossfire Riverdance. INLS3413-184KMEamonn Holmes puts his best foot forward during the Children in Crossfire Riverdance. INLS3413-184KM
Eamonn Holmes puts his best foot forward during the Children in Crossfire Riverdance. INLS3413-184KM

The figure was produced by taking the amount of space available in the city centre and estimating how many people it would take to occupy the areas utilised by the Fleadh.

The Fleadh organisers told the Sentinel the 430k figure did not differentiate between locals and visitors who enjoyed the massive event.

The Sentinel asked how the 430k figure was calculated.

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A spokesperson for the Fleadh co-ordinating committee said: “The figure was calculated using the spatial capacity of the city centre and the estimated audience attendance of 430,000 was agreed by the interagency team.”

The paper also asked if the figure included both city residents and visitors from outside Londonderry.

“The figure includes overall attendance by locals and visitors. There are two further independent studies pending which will provide a more detailed breakdown of the visitor profile,” a spokesperson advised.

The paper asked if the figure was exact and if not, what the margin of error was.

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“The figure of 430,000 is the estimated audience attendance based on the spatial capacity of the city,” the spokesperson stated. “We’ll release further information on any further statistics that we receive as soon as they are available.”

Meanwhile, the Fleadh Executive Committee has announced it will be hosting a ‘thank you event’ on Friday (September 20) 2013 in the Venue for those who helped make the landmark event possible.