Deadline for Gathering funding is 30th November

Meath and Boyne Valley initiatives as part of the The Gathering Ireland 2013 could be in line for up to €2,500 per project via The Gathering Local Community Fund. Following extremely well attended community meetings aimed at identifying a variety of projects and people to lead these initiatives, the application process is now open for The Gathering Local Community Fund. The fund being administered locally by Meath Local Authorities will provide support to local and community event organisers and projects which will encourage international visitors to come to the Boyne Valley and County Meath. The Community Fund allocations range from €500 to €2,500 and will be in direct relation to the number of overseas visitors that are attracted to Ireland by that initiative. Funding is limited and applications are to be assessed on a competitive basis. Projects earmarked for funding include school reunions, sports clubs hosting overseas teams, music, cultural or business gatherings involving overseas visitors. The key criterion is the ability of the proposed Gathering to attract overseas visitors who would not otherwise have visited. To qualify for funding, The Gathering project organiser must have a plan of the event proposed including details for tapping into the international market, how to manage the event media wise and show how the project will contribute to the county's Gathering calendar. It can be a new event, initiated thanks to The Gathering Ireland 2013, or could also be an extension of an existing project. Priority will also be given to Gatherings which have emerged from the Gathering Ireland Community Meeting process. All Applications must be completed by Friday, November 30, 2012. Application forms can be downloaded from www.gatheringireland.com or www.meath.ie. Meath Applications should be returned to Michele Whelan, Gathering Local Community Funding, Meath County Council, County Hall, Railway Street, Navan, Co. Meath If applying for Rural Development funding from Meath Partnership, please check in relation to eligibility for this fund.