if EFDSS were to go back in to the festival business[ which they should never have abandoned] The sensible business approach, is as I suggested earlier is to do it by degrees.
start one, one day or possibly two day festival, circulate all their members and offer reductions for members, keep expenses to a minimium,
organise lots of singarounds, and avoid expensive superstar acts[perhaps just have one for a main concert]and one expensive ceilidh band.
I am sure many dance bands, and morris sides would volunteer and many of the singers who are already involved in the society would give their services for nothing.
I certainly would come from Ireland for nothing, apart from accomodation and i dont mean an expensive hotel, I mean a bed and a breakfast in the morning.
this could act as the flagship for the society, but just keep it to one festival, until it has been proven for a number of years.