Festival Tour De Force... music coming to Mirfield

Donal O’Driscoll is the ambitious brains behind the first ever Mirfield Music Festival which could coincide with the Grand Départ of the Tour De France this year. But Mr O’Driscoll said he needs 2,000 people to each pledge £5 a ticket for the festival to go ahead on May 25.

And he said if he does not raise the required amount to put on the event, the money would go to a good local cause – possibly the upkeep of Mirfield’s public toilets.

Mr O’Driscoll organises the popular Heckmondwike Crown of Lights festival, and said he wants to continue the spirit of the festival. He said: “I would love it if we could replicate what we do at Crown of Lights. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Mirfield and it would be criminal for this town, with its links to cycling, not to have a festival for the Tour de France.” Plans for the event, which would take place in Mirfield Showgrounds, include two stages of local bands, stalls and a beer tent. Mr O’Driscoll also wants to invite Mirfield’s Brian Robinson – the UK’s first winner of a stage of the Tour De France – as the festival’s guest of honour. “What does a fiver get you these days?” Mr O’Driscoll added. “For £5, you can get a ticket to eight hours of live music or it can go to a worthy local cause such as Mirfield public toilets, which are very important to this and neighbouring towns. It’s a no-lose situation. I am continually getting feedback from people and it is mostly positive, I think people in the town want to see this happen.” The money would be held in a special bank account overlooked by a councillor or trusted local figure, and Mr O’Driscoll said if the £10,000 target was not reached, it would be donated to a good local cause. Mayor of Mirfield Vivien Lees-Hamilton supported the festival, and said: “Mirfield needs this. We can sometimes be a little bit sedate as a town when it comes to entertainment events, and I would like to see more things like this coming into town. We have the Mirfield show, but I would like to see more things like this in the town.”

To pledge your support, text 07957 765573 at the normal network rate. No donation will be taken and texters will receive an alert when tickets go on sale.