Tattoo shows off '˜all that's good' in city

Members of the Churchill Flute Band pictured during their sell out performance as part of the 2016 Walled City Tattoo in the Millennium Forum.

Colr. McLaughlin was speaking after the organisers of the annual event made a presentation before the Council’s Business & Culture Committee, and asked for funding towards next year’s event.

James Kee, chairman of the Tattoo, described how the opportunity to stage the Tattoo first came about as part of the City of Culture celebrations, and attracted 22,000 visitors during 2013 and 2014.

Last year as the Tattoo moved indoors at the Millennium Forum, there were 300 performers before a capacity crowd. Representatives outlined how funding was becoming increasingly hard to come by, and that the Tattoo needed to be kept fresh and attract new acts each years,

Colr. McLaughlin said she has attended every Tattoo and congratulated the organisers. “Prior to my first time going I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did. There is absolutely no doubt it is cross community. It is about promoting all that is good in our community,” she said.

SDLP Colr. John Boyle said the Tattoo team “were a very good example of people with a ‘can do’ attitude”, and DUP Colr. Graham Warke praised organisers for bringing a “world class event to the city”.

A funding bid is expected to be submitted in due course.