Posted online: Jul 28th, 2010

By Lauren Harte
reporter

An additional €3m in revenue is expected to be generated in the North West following this weekend’s concerts at Lissadell House with south Donegal set to reap much of the benefits.
Preparations are in full swing at the historic Sligo estate ahead of the highly anticipated weekend concerts by Westlife and the legendary
Leonard Cohen. It is expected that 30,000 fans will flock to the region for the concerts by Ireland’s most successful pop band ever and one of the greatest singer/songwriters of all time.
As a result Fáilte Ireland North West anticipates that up to additional €3m will be generated in the region as a result of the three nights of concerts.
Five 40 ton trucks have already rolled into Sligo ahead of the preparations for first concert of Westlife ‘Homecoming’ gig on Friday night while a 30 man crew have been busy assembling the massive arc shaped stage, a replica of the one that the band performed on at Croke Park recently. Cohen will play two sold out gigs at the venue, which is closely associated with WB Yeats, on Saturday and Sunday
nights.
The stage will feature a huge lighting rig which will use in excess of 10,000 watts, six cameras will shoot and capture the musicians live on stage performance and beam them to colossal high definition screens set up on either side of the stage. The stately house will provide a dramatic back drop to the 42 metre stage on the front lawn for this intimately fully seated concert.
Paul McLoone of Fáilte Ireland North West said the weekend events will boost tourism in both South Donegal and Sligo.
“We will be reaping the economic benefits of Lissadell. There are a lot of bookings for accommodation in both Donegal Town and Bundoran. A local bus operator will be running a direct service during the weekend from the Great Northern Hotel in Bundoran where a lot of people are staying.”