24 April 1997 Edition
Unionists threaten Féile funding
Gerry Adams has denounced a Belfast City Council decision to block funding for the West Belfast Festival as a ``disgraceful witch-hunt'' and said Sinn Fein would do all possible to reverse the decision taken last Friday 18 April.
Unionist councillors used the gala awards ceremony, attended by Adams, to indulge in shameful sectarian electioneering. Jim Rogers, Sandy Blair, and Fred Cobain will press a special Policy and Resources Committee to cut funding to the pioneering community festival, to penalise the Féile for Mairead Ni hAdhmaill's acceptance speech for a prize won by their play, A Prisoner's Wife. Her speech was partly in Irish. The Unionists also targeted Sue Ramsey for dedicating the award to prisoners' families.
Adams said of the complaints that, ``these councillors need to realise that Belfast belongs to all its citizens, not just a unionist clique in the city hall. As a founder of the Feile I had every right to be there.''
The festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and won the prize at the inaugural Belfast Arts Awards ceremony at City Hall on Saturday 12 April.
Catriona Ruane, Director Feile an Phobail, spoke of her disappointment at this petty point scoring, ``the councillors complain that the acceptance speech insulted unionists by being made in Irish and by containing a reference to prisoners. This play is about prisoners' families. Prisoners' wives wrote and acted in the play. It is perfectly legitimate for them to dedicate the award to prisoners and their families.''
She pointed out that any cancellation of funding would be discriminatory, and would be dealt with legally, but that her preferred option would be for the matter to resolved through common-sense.
Unionist councillors used the gala awards ceremony, attended by Adams, to indulge in shameful sectarian electioneering. Jim Rogers, Sandy Blair, and Fred Cobain will press a special Policy and Resources Committee to cut funding to the pioneering community festival, to penalise the Féile for Mairead Ni hAdhmaill's acceptance speech for a prize won by their play, A Prisoner's Wife. Her speech was partly in Irish. The Unionists also targeted Sue Ramsey for dedicating the award to prisoners' families.
Adams said of the complaints that, ``these councillors need to realise that Belfast belongs to all its citizens, not just a unionist clique in the city hall. As a founder of the Feile I had every right to be there.''
The festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and won the prize at the inaugural Belfast Arts Awards ceremony at City Hall on Saturday 12 April.
Catriona Ruane, Director Feile an Phobail, spoke of her disappointment at this petty point scoring, ``the councillors complain that the acceptance speech insulted unionists by being made in Irish and by containing a reference to prisoners. This play is about prisoners' families. Prisoners' wives wrote and acted in the play. It is perfectly legitimate for them to dedicate the award to prisoners and their families.''
She pointed out that any cancellation of funding would be discriminatory, and would be dealt with legally, but that her preferred option would be for the matter to resolved through common-sense.