Crux between council and committee over Mayo horse fair ad

A CRUX has arisen over the payment of a newspaper advertisement for the annual horse fair in Westport, which dates back to 1741.

The ad, costing €800, has been paid for by the council in former years but there is a budgetary issue, local elected representatives have been told.

Management in the municipal district say they are open to engage with all the parties involved to come to a resolution.

Councillor Johnny O'Malley raised the matter at a municipal district meeting, saying he has been told there is no funding available to put the ad in the paper explaining about the horse fair and where it will be.

Ad or no ad, there would be a fair in Westport, he told council management.

Regulations have gone too far, said Councillor Brendan Mulroy, and this was sending out the wrong message. It was difficult on everyone's behalf and they needed to find a commonsense approach, he said.

Acting municipal head Jim Power said they had met with the event committee and would welcome further engagement to come to a resolution.

On the executive's part, there was no value for them for the fair not to go ahead. It is a budgetary issue, he said, and other community groups have paid the same fee.

They would be open to engaging with all parties, he added.

The meeting heard the ad would cost €800.

Councillor O'Malley said the fair have their own stewards on the day and do a lot of the work themselves. All they want is that the ad is paid for like it always has been by the council.

Regardless, the fair would still be going ahead, he said, adding that they bring a lot of people to the town for what is a great tradition.

Mr. Power reiterated that they were open to working collaboratively with them as they have done.