By Teresa McGowan
teresa@monaghanpost.com

MONAGHAN could see the return of the €2.5 million generated into the economy along with the return this weekend of the Monaghan Blues Festival, proudly sponsored by the Monaghan Post.
In terms of tourism revenue in the Republic of Ireland Monaghan ranks among the bottom three counties. When the Blues Festival ran for 11 years from 1990 to 2001 it was the busiest time in the county’s hospitality calendar and the single biggest money-spinner in the year for tourism, the Arts Officer for Monaghan County Council and festival organiser Somhairle MacConghail has said.
“Every single hotel and B&B from Clones to Carrickmacross was booked up when the blues festival was at its height in Monaghan,” Mr MacConghail said. “Times have changed and there is a lot of festivals around the country but Monaghan needs something to hang its coat on in terms of tourism and the blues festival is it.
“When we were brining it back this year we found that the reputation was still there among musicians who all wanted to come here to play.
“We will know on Saturday if this can be the success it once was. We know that it’s not going to be as great as it was in its peak, but we’re hoping in three years it will be,” he added.