The Rose of Tralee festival, now in its 45th year, and which attracts some of the highest numbers of television viewers each August, has not presented evidence of long-term viability, according to an internal Bord Fáilte Festivals and Cultural Initiative evaluation form for funding.
The peak season festival which received €150,000 in funding this year and €75,000 the year before, as well as a once-off budget day grant of €320,000, has a proven support from the tourism industry and has a reasonable level of overseas visitor interest, the evaluation report finds.
However, documents released to Radio Kerry have revealed the festival has not addressed the issue of viability with the board.
The international event is one of Ireland's premier festivals.
Large numbers of visitors from throughout the world return, year after year, to enjoy Irish and international music, parades, fireworks displays and nightly seisiúns.
The highlight of the festival is the selection of the Rose of the Tralee when contenders from many centres around the world compete for the title in a live television show over two nights.
The festival can expect to attract almost a quarter of a million visitors to Tralee, and is responsible for 160,000 bed-nights in the region, according to the report.
A spokeswoman for the festival said that last year was the first year of government funding for it. The Rose of Tralee needed to be not solely dependant on government funding, and was to look at various strategies.
The Rose was inextricably linked to Tralee, although "cultural authenticity is questionable", the evaluation form noted. It was, however, a "well-known festival internationally, particularly in the US".
Funding for 2003 would be subject to 2002 issues on developing and implementing a strategy for the long-term viability of the festival, according to the minutes of a meeting of the Festivals and Cultural Initiative Executive Committee, which took place in April.
This year's festival takes place from August 22nd to 26th.
The line-up includes the Hothouse Flowers, Brian Kennedy, Juliet Turner and Sharon Shannon.