Implemented from 28th January, 2005.

Updated from 1st August, 2017.

Preliminary Statement: The safety of children and vulnerable adults is paramount and all, without exception, have the right to protection. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously, responded to swiftly and appropriately and all the Festival’s staff have a responsibility to report concerns.

1. Purpose and Function of the Organisation:

Feis Maitiú provides a platform for amateur performance in both Music and Drama with an educational element from Professional Adjudicators and Specialists.

2 a. The Festival Environment:

Feis Maitiú will be held at the Father Mathew Hall, Father Mathew Street, Cork.

It is the policy of our Festival to inform and involve paretns/guardians/carers and teachers in partnership in order to ensure, as far as it is reasonably practicable, a safe environment at our Festival. We do this by ensuring you receive a copy of this policy at the time you are making arrangements to attend our Festival. It is the responsibility of all parents/guardians/carers and teachers to care for their children and those in their care while attending the Festival. Feis Maitiú will not act “in loco parentis” in the care of minors.

2 b. Supervision of public areas during Feis Classes:

Feis Maitiú takes all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of children and young people while attending the Festival. Feis personnel do not directly supervise public areas at all times. The safety of our patrons is important to us. Feis Maitiú therefore requests parents/guardians/carers and teachers to ensure that children or young people under their care are supervised at all times when using public areas such as toilets, café, lobby, stairs etc. Concerns in relation to patron safety should immediately be reported to Feis personnel on duty.

3. To Whom Does This Policy Apply:

This policy relates to children under the age of 18 years and members of vulnerable groups of any age whose needs are identified to the organisers by parents/guardians/carers and teachers prior to their arrival at the Festival. This should be done by contacting the address or telephone number at the foot of this document. Our Festival actively seeks, wherever possible, to meet these needs, but must know beforehand in order to prepare support – or to let you know we are unable to help.

4. Festival Personnel:

All Feis Staff are identifiable by a Gold Name Badge, bearing the name and logo of the Feis and their own name. The Duty Manager, will wear a White Name Badge, bearing the name and logo of the Feis and the Duty Manager’s name. Please inform your Child to make contact with a Staff member, should they have any enquiry or experience any difficulty. Every problem will be taken seriously, documented and dated. Each member of staff has had Garda clearance.

5. Preparing for Attendance at the Festival:

There is an admission charge of €5.00 per adult attending the Festival. Concessions are available, as are Season Tickets and Section Tickets. A copy of this policy is available on our website and syllabus.  When submitting an entry for the Feis parents/guardians/carers/teachers must agree to abide by this policy.

Feis staff will not be responsible for the supervision or care of unaccompanied children and minors. Where parents, guardians and carers are not personally attending the Festival with their children, this Policy requires that they are satisfied that their children will be accompanied to the Festival and adequately supervised by responsible adults acting on their behalf.

6. Performance, Practice and Changing Areas:

A Parent, Guardian or Teacher may accompany minors backstage. There are no changing facilities at the Father Mathew Hall. All participants who need costume are advised to arrive in costume. Practice facilities are not available.

7. Photographs, Video/Audio Recording and Press Photography:

Use of any kind of audio or visual equipment is strictly prohibited for the protection of all children attending and participating at the Feis. Parents, Guardians and Teachers are requested to help ensure that this prohibition is enforced.

An Official Photographer and Journalist from the Media may attend and will be identifiable by Name Badge or ID Card. Please ensure your child, Guardian or Teacher is aware of your position on the use of Photographs and Interviews for Newspaper publication and notifies the photographer present if you do not wish your child to be photographed.

8. Guidance that Supports this Document:

This policy is in conformity with the State Guidelines: Children First, 2011.

9. Policy Review:

The Executive will constantly review this policy, improving and enhancing as necessary.

The Child Protection Officers are: Timothy McCarthy and Kathleen O’Regan, Father Mathew Hall, Father Mathew Street, Cork. Tel. 021-4273347 / 021-4272631.