Pro-IRA chants at Feile: None of the promised investigations by the main funders appear to have got underway

The organisation, which is funded by the National Lottery, said the £116,000 it awarded contributes to Feile an Phobail’s “annual running costs, including an element of staff salary and marketing costs – it does not include the costs associated with programming individual artists and musicians”.

A statement added: “As a funding and development agency the Arts Council does have the right to claw back or retain a percentage of funding offered to a client if we find there has been a significant breach of their commitment to good relations. A commitment to good relations is a mandatory pre-requisite for all Arts Council funding and we expect all arts organisations which receive our funding to adhere to those obligations.

"The Arts Council Board reminded Feile of their obligations before the festival opened this year and will address this issue again at its earliest opportunity.”

When asked today has the issue been addressed yet, a spokesperson said the Arts Council “will not be making any further comment at this time”.

The National Lottery were asked by the News Letter if it planned to intervene with Arts Council NI funding for the Feile, but no response was forthcoming hours after the deadline for a reply had passed.

Tourism NI, who would not disclose how much money it gave to this year’s Feile promised that it would be “reviewing the events that took place at Sunday night’s concert and the adherence to the funding offer terms and conditions.”

Asked by the News Letter if this review has taken place yet, a spokesperson said: “Tourism NI has not been in a position as yet to undertake a review of the Feile event. This will be done in the weeks ahead.”

Last year Tourism NI had also promised to investigate similar controversies at the festival involved the Wolfe Tones and Kneecap.

It is unclear if the outcome of this was to cut funding as the amount of cash given to this year’s Feile has not been revealed.

The third major funder – Belfast City Council who provide £224,000 each year – said engagement would take place, but did not say when.

A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: “Feile an Phobail has received funding via the council’s Cultural Multi-Annual Grants scheme for four years (2020-2024) to support a programme of 250+ inclusive arts and cultural activities over a number of days each year.

“While council supports the festival on this basis, our funding does not support commercial events, such as the event by the Wolfe Tones.”

It is almost identical to the statement issued last year which read: “Feile an Phobail received funding via council’s Cultural Multi-Annual Grants scheme for four years (2020-2024) to support a programme of 250+ inclusive arts and cultural activities over a number of days each year.

“While council supports the festival on this basis, our funding does not support commercial events such as the event by Kneecap.”

Asked for a further statement on when they planned to speak with Feile organisers, a council spokesperson said: “Officers will engage directly with all festival organisers after events – this would be the case with all those who receive funding through our Cultural Multi-Annual Grants scheme.”

Meanwhile the Charity Commission, who endorse Feile an Phobail as a charity, earlier this week said it was considering whether to review its decision not to take action at against the Feile festival for contravening charity law.

It was also considering a request on whether it should refer itself to the Charity Tribunal.

Asked by the News Letter if the Charity Commission has reached a decision on either of these requests under consideration, a spokeperson said: “No decision has been made yet.”

Gary Murray, whose sister Leanne was 13 when she was murdered by the IRA in the Shankill Bomb in 1993, said the Charity Commission had made an error in ruling that the pro-IRA singing at Feile did not contravene charity law and called on members to resign.

Colin Parry, whose son Tim was 12 when he was killed by an IRA bomb planted in a bin in Warrington, also in 1993, told the funders of the festival to think again: “Think again about the pain and anger it will cause to so many people who were victims of the IRA and for them to fund this knowing, or seem to know what may happen at the end, this celebratory song. It's offensive, it's devisive, it stirs up old memories, it stirs up ancient hatred.”

Feile an Phobail director Kevin Gamble said a record 120,000 people had attended events at this year’s festival.

He said: “Over the last 35 years, Feile has a proven track record of delivering significant social, cultural and economic benefits to the city of Belfast, and this increases year on year.

“This year, representatives from all communities were welcomed to Feile to have their voice heard, both as spectators and participants.

“All political persuasions attended and participated in various panel discussions, as did representatives from minority ethnic communities, and international visitors.

"Feile an Phobail includes all opinions and provides a platform for many different views."