Синн Фейн обвиняет ЕС в двойных стандартах: фонд выделил деньги на парк в Баллисиллане, но отказал в финансировании крупнейшего мирного фестиваля Флидх

Sinn Féin complains EU peacemaking fund has money for Ballysillan project but none for Fleadh Councillor says: "It was the biggest, most successful peacebuilding event we have had on this island, yet they didn’t contribute towards it" Sinn Féin has complained that a EU peacemaking fund going through Belfast City Council will give money to a project in Ballysillan but refused money earlier in the summer for the Fleadh. At the August meeting of the council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, Sinn Féin Councillor Ciaran Beattie complained that a £1.4 million peacebuilding cheque from the Special EU Programmes Body would be going to revamp a North Belfast park after being refused for the Belfast Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which he described as “Ireland’s biggest ever peacebuilding event". A decision has not yet been made by the Special EU Programmes Body on the council grant funding increase request for the Ballysillan Redevelopment project, but is expected later this week. READ MORE: DUP slams Belfast Council's £1.9m Irish Language Policy READ MORE: Belfast City Hall will be lit green for safe abortion Councillor Ciaran Beattie said at the committee meeting: “There are a number of worries we have on this one. We should be writing to the Department of Finance, to request how this is managed with the SEUPB . I don’t think it has used best practice. “I know that the council has made at least three applications to them over the summer, which were refused. One in particular was over the Fleadh. “The SEUPB has a responsibility for peacebuilding, and it was the biggest, most successful peacebuilding event we have had on this island, yet they didn’t contribute towards it. And then all of a sudden they come in and say, we have money to spend, can you get it out the door? “How does that happen? Is that the best way to do this? We need to ask questions on this. And we can’t just deal with this last minute, and be asked to concoct projects, and try to create a balance.” He asked: “Is there a balance across the city? Or are there certain projects that they prefer? And what are they? We have received information there are some they want to fund, particularly sporting projects. “We have already carried out a very detailed consultation in terms of the pitches strategy, and it shows clearly there is a massive deficit in a certain sport in this city, which is GAA. But there is obviously an attempt to direct this money in a different direction.” He successfully proposed all these questions be posed to the Stormont department. The committee also retrospectively approved the Ballysillan funding request. Also at the meeting Councillor Beattie asked the council Chief Executive John Walsh why the request for funding for the Fleadh was refused by SEUPB. Mr Walsh replied: “The straightest answer I can give is that I don’t know.” Councillor Beattie asked him: “How can it go from not funding a project like the Fleadh, and then a couple of weeks later saying we need to get this money out? How does that happen?” The Chief Executive said: “That is one of the imponderables. I am happy to write a letter.” Another council officer said: “The Fleadh application was an exceptional application, and I really want answers as to why it was not funded.” The Special EU Programmes Body is a cross-border body established under the Good Friday Agreement to manage European Union funding programs in Northern Ireland and the border counties in the Republic. It administers specialised funding in specific areas to promote peace, reconciliation, and economic prosperity. Belfast Council were approached by the Urban Villages team within the Stormont Executive Office to make a request for grant funding increase to SEUPB for the Ballysillan Redevelopment project, which is a £8.4 million plan to transform Ballysillan Playing Fields in North Belfast into a modern, “multi-use destination” public park. The project includes the installation of a new 3G sports pitch, refurbishment of the pavilion building, newly lit pathways for accessibility and safety after dark, and dedicated zones for recreation and community events. There will be new wildflower planting, open grass zones, and sustainable wetlands to improve local biodiversity. Construction works commenced in July 2025 and are expected to reach completion by spring 2027. A council report on the council funding request states: “Members will note that S, P and R agreed in April 2026 for proposals to be submitted to SEUPB for additional funding in the region of £2 to 3 million. This application included the Fleadh and Forthmeadow Greenway signage, but was considered in July 2026 by SEUPB as “not sufficiently meeting the selection criteria”. SEUPB have since advised that they will accept a new application relating to the Ballysillan Project.” The £1.4 million grant funding request will focus primarily on a 3G pitch, event space and programming. The application deadline was assessed on Thursday 20th August at a special panel, before the latest meeting of the council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee. The grant funding must be claimed and spent by the end of September at the latest. For this reason, the council report stated, it would not be "feasible" to submit other projects. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.