Celtfest has a new backer as preparations heat up for the November 7 event to celebrate Wales‘ meeting with New Zealand with an all day celebration of Welsh culture and rugby culture at Cardiff International Arena.
Transport tycoon Clayton Jones is also involved with plans to expand and export the festival to Six Nations host cities and the Ryder Cup – always promoting Welsh products and providing a brilliant experience for visitors to the fans’ village.
Following CeltFest’s hugely successful debut at the Cardiff International Arena in March – the day of the thrilling Ireland v Wales game – Pontypridd-based Mr Jones is to become CeltFest’s chairman and is investing in the company as an equity partner.
Mr Jones said: “I had to become involved when I heard that this project is about taking Welsh products to places like Dublin, Rome and Paris.
“It is great news that at last a Welsh company is doing what the Irish have done for years – making a serious business out of your own culture. This is all about promoting Wales in the world and I am delighted to be associated with the company’s Buy Welsh policy.”
Mr Jones, a staunch patriot and one of Wales’s most successful entrepreneurs, recently sold his transport company for £10m to French conglomerate Veolia.
CeltFest chief executive Dwyer McClorey said: “Clayton and I have developed a business model which will allow a working person on a working wage to enjoy performances by world-class international stars at an affordable price during these lean times.
“Our policy is value all the way, but quality is never compromised. That’s why we make it a rule to buy local. The well-mannered rugby public gets to see international stars while enjoying a pre- and post-match pint with all the facilities they deserve – a queue-free bar, good food, clean toilets and so forth. An online poll of those who attended the first CeltFest shows us that and astonishing 94% will attend again.
“CeltFest has agreed a sponsorship deal brokered by Felinfoel with Carlsberg, Felinfoel’s preferred supplier of lager and the fourth largest brewery in the world,” said Mr McClorey.
“The deal, to support CeltFest abroad, means that in future, within Wales events will be known as Felinfoel CeltFest, but elsewhere Carlsberg CeltFest.
“CeltFest’s business model is very simple. The company aims to provide the largest Celtic bar in every capital city coinciding with major sporting events, and to offer all-day, world-class, live entertainment with a huge screen relaying the match, all for £25. Special coaches will be on hand to take people home for as little as £2.”
The Cardiff event in March saw Welsh brewery Felinfoel’s award-winning ales served at a huge queue-free bar in a friendly hassle-free atmosphere, with stunning entertainment from Bryn Terfel, Cerys Matthews, Dafydd Iwan, Rhys Meirion, Calan and a phenomenal finale from Irish folk legends The Wolfe Tones.
The next major CeltFest – the events are billed as the ‘Greatest Rugby Parties Ever’- is on November 7, again in Cardiff’s CIA, and will feature superstar Max Boyce and Friends.
Rugby legend Max is the only singer-comedian ever to have achieved a No 1 UK album. His show sold-out the Sydney Opera House and his TV programme An Audience with Max Boyce scored some of the highest viewing figures ever.
Bryn Terfel’s agency has been retained to ensure a programme of world-class Welsh singers and musicians with tenors, sopranos, baritones and a ‘Three-Tenor’ experience planned for the event on November 7.
Talks are already under way for The Chieftains, Ireland’s most popular traditional music band, to take up residence at the CIA during the Ryder Cup and sing with the greatest solo stars from Wales.
More Celtfests are booked for 2010 at the CIA as well as block bookings for every Wales home game in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The search is on for venues adjacent to the rugby stadiums in other European rugby capitals, Paris, Rome, London, Dublin and Edinburgh in partnership with Livenation.
Visit the site for more on CeltFest.
