The Indiependence Music Festival is no longer to take place in Mitchelstown organisers announced this week, stating they are ‘saddened’ that they will not be able to place INDIE at a venue in the town following a period of phenomenal growth over the past 15 years.
The news is sure to be another blow to the local economy as the music festival, held at a site in Deer Park on the Dublin Road, brought a major amount of money into the region annually. The festival was forced to cancel this year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Shane Dunne, who has led the organisation team behind the festival, said it was not an easy decision to make.
“We are sad to announce that the fifteen year relationship between Indiependence and Mitchelstown is at an end and INDIE will not return to Mitchelstown in 2021,” Shane said in a statement.
“This is a situation we hoped would never arise but we have been left with no other option. We have taken the decision to protect the ticket holder funds and ensure that everyone is refunded in time for Christmas.
“We have had fourteen INDIE Festivals in Mitchelstown starting with three in the square way back in 2006. We have seen the best of Irish and International talent come to our town over the years; we sang, we danced and at times we cried.
“This is not a decision made lightly, it is with a heavy heart that we see no other option. However, this is not the end of Indiependence, we are looking to the future, to something new, unfortunately we cannot do that in Mitchelstown in the foreseeable future,” he added.
Shane sent his gratitude to local people and various organisations that have helped with making the festival a success.
“We’d like to thank everyone locally who has helped us over the years, the local businesses, Cork County Council, Mitchelstown Fire Brigade, Mitchelstown Gardaí, David Casey, Pa Hanrahan and everyone else involved including all the local volunteers, too many to mention,” he added.
The festival organisers said that refund details will be available from Indiependencefestival.com in the coming days.
Indiependence festival organisers had spoken about their funding plans for ticket holders which includes a proposed gift for its supporters.
