' I wholeheartedly apologise' Laois parade organiser addresses unpaid entertainers

The organisers of a Laois parade, paid by public donations, have left some of their hired entertainers unpaid, but are refuting suggestions of wrongdoing.

Mountmellick St Patrick’s Day parade and Boglands Festival was organised both this year and in 2022, by two local people, Jason McInerney and Martina Kelly.

They have refused to publish accounts as requested by several local people, instead alleging that there is “a character assassination campaign” underway.

They have instead shared a half hour video statement on social media, reading out accounts and giving reasons for not paying their contractors.

The organisers who call their group Mountmellick Central Hub, held a weekend of events for the public to enjoy, including live music and family entertainers.

See photos of the 2025 Mountmellick St Patrick's Day Parade here.

Their fundraising had included door to door collections and cash sponsorship from many Mountmellick businesses.

Mr McInerney now claims that it totalled €8,531.11, but that the event cost €11,881.11, a shortfall of over €3,000.  He further claims that eight businesses including stall vendors, owe them a total of €2,300.

He said he regrets that €3,200 of their bills remain unpaid.

“I acknowledge those people that are waiting on funds from us. You’ve done your duty and you provided a service that was asked of you. I wholeheartedly apologise to you that it’s taken this long to settle these accounts. 

“As you can see we have been left in a precarious position here,” Mr McInerney said.

A video still of the statement by Jason McInerney and Martina Kelly who run Mountmellick Central Hub.

He is critical of Laois County Council for not giving them a festival grant, either for their 2022 event or this year. However he confirms why.

“In 2022 the council asked for us to have the same name for our bank account, our group and our tax reference number. That opened a can of worms, something we never thought we would have to go through. A few days before St Patrick’s Day this year we received our tax registration update and were able to put our details on that account. 

“We sent the application this morning (July 21) for the third time with a letter explaining that we can’t pay our suppliers. We have asked them to pay us in 14 days or give an adequate response. If we do not receive a satisfactory response we will have no option but to start legal proceedings,” Mr McInerney said.

He said they also applied for grants from other groups including the National Lottery but have been unsuccessful.

Mr McInerney further stated that they have €800, plus €170 in a Gofundme account that is “currently unretrievable”.

Both Mr McInerney and Ms Kelly insist they have done no wrong.

“My intention has been pure. My team has given nothing but their heart. It’s so disrespectful,” he said.

Ms Kelly criticised the commenters online as “keyboard warriors” saying ”I pay my bills”.

They announced intentions to continue running the parade in 2026, and to apply for a grant from Laois Partnership.

The issue came to the public forum in July when the Mountmellick community was asked to “put pressure” on the group to pay its bills, by a Kerry based animal roadshow business, in a Facebook post.

“The parade was a great success for the public at the expense of companies like myself who came all the way from Kerry,” Ms Marie Lennon Fleming said.

It spurred a big reaction, both of sympathy to out of pocket entertainers, and of concern, calling on the parade organisers to display their accounts and their grant applications.

Well known Laois entertainer Clown Jeca also claims that he has still not been paid for his work at the 2022 parade. See interview with Clown Jeca in the current issue of Laois Live magazine.

Clown Jeca at the Folly Festival. Photo: Alf Harvey

He told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that it is the first time in his 25 years living in Ireland not to get paid.

“He promised me payment in a few days. I never received this payment and I discovered that, like me, several people at the time also did not receive their payments. He, like others on the committee, blocked my number.

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"To my indignation I discovered that this year the same people involved in 2022 were at the front of this year's Mountmellick St Patrick's parade. I, who for years have had the mission of making people laugh and happy,  I saw myself again getting very upset with injustices like this one,” Jeca said.

Laois County Council gave the following comment.

“Laois County Council has received no written correspondence in relation to the Boglands festival and therefore has no comment to make on the matter.”