Politicians have called for a review of funding from public bodies for Féile an Phobail following a series of incidents across the weekend.
There has been condemnation after young people were filmed taking part in pro-IRA chants at a Wolfe Tones concert in West Belfast on Sunday night.
Elsewhere, an online video taken at the unveiling of a mural of a burning police vehicle by Irish language rappers Kneecap on Friday, which included chants of "Get the Brits out", has also been criticised.
Read more: Sale of Parachute Regiment flags at Derry parade a "setback" for community relations
Read more: Omagh bomb families remember lost loved ones on 24th Anniversary
Alliance leader and Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “The band in question court controversy - it’s publicity and I doubt this latest mural will do them any harm. However, the same can’t be said of young children being groomed into sectarian hatred.”
Ms Long continued: “We’ve seen this all summer: it needs to stop. We owe the next generation better.
“Loathe to give the band more publicity, but as a community we need to start asking ourselves what messages we’re sending out about the kind of future we want. Normalising/excusing violence, seeking to cause hurt/offence, isn’t how to build a better future for us all.”
There has also been condemnation following the emergence of a photograph, which appears to show Larne FC player John Herron wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Up The Ra".
Larne FC have since suspended the player “with immediate effect” and that an investigation into the incident is under way.
Elsewhere the sale of Parachute Regiment and UVF flags at a parade in Derry at the weekend has been criticised. The Parachute Regiment were responsible for the deaths of 13 civilians during a civil rights march in the city in 1972 on Bloody Sunday.
DUP MLA for Lagan Valley, Emma Little-Pengelly, said the scenes over the weekend were "deeply disappointing".
She has called for an urgent investigation around funding from public bodies for Feile an Phobail.
"They are young people, many of them born after the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and yet we are seeing this type of glorification of terrorism which is absolutely unacceptable," she told the BBC.
"Shouting about paramilitary organisations, talking about the things they've done in the past in such a way, celebrating that, glorifying that..
"That is never an acceptable form of cultural expression, regardless of whether that is the IRA or any other paramilitary organisation. We are in 2022, this is not the Northern Ireland that we need to be building."
Ms Little-Pengelly said recent comments by Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill that there was no alternative to violence in the past, "was not leadership".
"I am calling on all political leaders, political representatives from across all parties to say very clearly, and send a very clear message today that all glorification of terrorism is wrong, it has to be called out when it happens," she added.
UUP Alderman Sonia Copeland said there are questions for the organisers in light of the videos that have emerged.
“As councillors for Belfast we all have a duty to the wellbeing and community relations of the city. It is only right that we scrutinise events that avail of public funds and use public facilities. This behaviour being replicated year after year is damaging and it sends the wrong message out to young people for it to go unchallenged.
“The glorification and celebration of terrorist groups by chanting crowds is vile and should not be facilitated within a Council-owned park. We need to hear from the organisers of Feile an Phobail as to how they intend to tackle this behaviour,” she added.
SDLP Councillor Carl Whyte said he was “thoroughly depressed” at the sectarian chanting at this year's Feile.
On the issue of funding, Cllr Whyte said Belfast City Council can’t dictate which acts are booked adding that there is a “good relations test” which has not been met due to the chanting.
TUV leader Jim Allister claimed that the acts which caused offence at Feile were “deliberately and consciously” booked for the festival.
“I think responsibility does return to the festival organisers and then the council, who with that knowledge funded this event, knowing what had happened in previous years, knowing what happened at The Wolfe Tones concerts, knowing that ‘up the RA’ is part of that stage performance.
“All of that was within the knowledge and anticipation of a council which decided to fund.”
A spokesperson for Belfast City Council said: “Féile an Phobail received funding via Council’s Cultural Multi-Annual Grants scheme for four years (2020-2024) to support a programme of 250+ inclusive arts and cultural activities over a number of days each year.
“While Council supports the festival on this basis, our funding does not support commercial events such as the event by Kneecap.”
Feile an Phobail director Kevin Gamble said this year was the biggest yet, with around 100,000 people attending more than 350 events.
He pointed out that representatives from all communities were welcomed to various events, and said that no major internment bonfires took place in Belfast due to a dance music night put on by Feile to divert young people.
"The benefit of the absence of these unwanted bonfires on 8th August is significant, as well as the positive images emanating from the festival events showcasing Belfast in a positive light.
"There is also the considerable benefit to the city's economy which the associated increase in visitor footfall and spending brings due to Feile," he said.
READ NEXT:
Vehicle makes off from scene after car rammed near West Belfast shops
Mid Ulster Council say 'no rebates to ratepayers' in spite of strike action disruption
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
