Thousands packed into Derry’s Shipquay Street during the Fleadh.
A “pop up” bar specially set up in a vacant shop for the All-Ireland Fleadh in Derry last August made £1 million during the week-long traditional music festival, according to the director of City of Culture 2013.
Peter Appleton was speaking at a tourism conference in Hull which is to host City of Culture 2017.
Mr Appleton told those present Hull’s City of Culture status could bring in millions for business if entrepreneurs prepared for it now.
Speaking the event held at KC Stadium, he said the Humberside city’s role in 2017 could bring massive economic benefits.
Peter Appleton.
He said: “It will create huge opportunities if people switch on to it in the right way.
“Everybody has to up their game – anybody who visits the city needs to get a hugely positive and welcoming experience.
“If it’s a game-changer, as it has been for other places, it will bring an awful lot of investment in.”
He said Derry’s Fleadh Cheoil attracted in the region 430,000 visitors with “start-ups” grabbing the opportunity to sell to revellers, doing “extremely well out of it.”
He added: “There was one local entrepreneur who created a pop-up bar in a vacant shop.
“He reportedly made £1m in that week.
“Some people grasp the opportunity and some don’t but the opportunity is there.”
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