Cavan has been given a real gift in Fleadh 2012

The news that Cavan is to host the All-Ireland Fleadh for a third successive year is a major boost for the county - financially and psychologically. Certainly the county town deserved (given its massive efforts in 2010 and 2011) to host the fleadh for a third year but we now have a mammoth task ahead of us. It was noted in official (and unofficial) quarters that Cavan miraculously managed to surpass itself in 2011 with this year's fleadh, but to improve on it yet again for 2012 will be no easy feat. Much is expected of us now and all eyes are on Cavan, particularly given the backlash from Ennis, for example, after it missed out on playing host town by just one vote last Saturday. Certainly many in the business and voluntary committee may be suffering from Fleadh fatigue and there are those in the hospitality industry who may be inclined to sit back, let somebody else to the hard slog, and watch the euros flooding in again in 2012. To do so would be beyond unfair. The business community must now row in behind the Fleadh Executive Committee and put its money where its mouth is. And it's not just hard cash that's required to stage the event, but a huge human resource and collective effort. County manager and FEC chairman, Jack Keyes, who has been a major ambassador for County Cavan through this and countless other initiatives, has some ambitious plans to make 2012 the biggest and best fleadh yet but he needs very real support in order to achieve these goals. Let's face it, it could be another quarter of a century or more before Cavan gets the opportunity to host the fleadh again. We owe it to ourselves to put our best foot forward and make Fleadh 2012 one to remember. Cavan has already proven that it can step up to the mark and put its own unique stamp on events of this size and significance. We are throwing down the gauntlet to the rest of the country when it comes to staging the fleadh going forward. Furthermore, given Cavan's experience and success in this area, perhaps we could put a steering group or committee together to look at attracting or organising other such events or festivals in the future. At a time when unemployment is high and inward investment is nil, perhaps this is an area where Cavan can excel. With an estimated €70m already netted for the Cavan economy from Fleadh 2010 and 2011, events of this nature are a no brainer. Furthermore, we are promoting Cavan in general terms and who knows what long-term benefits we can accrue in the tourism sector.