Privacy Policy

Finn Valley Science Festival

Last updated: 25 August 2026

Who we are

This website is run by Finn Valley Family Resource Centre (“we”, “us”, “our”), the organiser of the Finn Valley Science Festival. We are the data controller responsible for the personal information collected through this website. You can contact us about anything in this policy, including any request about your personal data:

What this policy covers

This policy explains what personal information we collect through this website, why we collect it, how we look after it, and the rights you have over it. It applies to the festival website only. Where we use other services (such as our booking provider), those services have their own privacy policies, which we link to below.

The information we collect

We keep the information we collect to a minimum. There are two main ways we might receive your information.

1. When you contact us through our enquiry form

If you fill in the contact form on our website, we collect:

  • Your name
  • Your email address
  • Your phone number
  • The message you send us


We use this only to read and respond to your enquiry. We do not use it for marketing, and we do not share it with anyone else. Your enquiry reaches us by email, and may also be stored in our website’s system so we don’t lose it. We use Elementor Forms to run this form.

2. When you leave a message on our “River” wall

Our website has a feature that invites you to leave a short reflection or message about the River Finn and the festival. This feature does not ask for your name or any contact details. You only write a message.

When you submit a message, you choose whether it is shown publicly on the website or sent privately to us.

If you choose to display it publicly, your message may be shown on the website for other visitors to see. Please only share what you are happy for others to read, and do not include your own or anyone else’s personal details (such as names, contact details, or anything that could identify a person).

If you choose to keep it private, only we can see it.

Messages are stored in our website’s database. To help prevent spam and abuse, messages are first checked by an automated spam-detection systems. We use AntiSpam Bee, which checks for spam on our own server, and Google reCAPTCHA, which may share submission data with Google to carry out its check. We also review messages before they appear publicly, and we may choose not to publish a message. Because messages are submitted without a name, we may not be able to identify which message is yours if you later ask us to remove it, so please avoid including personal details.

This feature is intended for adults. Please do not include children’s names or personal details in a message.

3. When you book an activity

Bookings for festival activities are handled by Ticket Tailor, a separate booking service, through links on our website. When you book, you provide your details directly to Ticket Tailor — not to us. Ticket Tailor processes that information under its own privacy policy, which we recommend reading: https://www.tickettailor.com/privacy/. We may receive attendee information from Ticket Tailor to help us run the festival (for example, numbers booked onto an activity).

Cookies and similar technologies

Cookies are small files stored on your device that help websites work and remember your choices.

Our website uses a small number of essential cookies needed for the site to function and to remember your cookie preferences. We manage cookies using the Complianz consent tool, which lets you accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can change your choice at any time using the cookie settings link in our website footer.

Some pages include links to Google Maps so you can find a venue or get directions. If you click one, Google Maps opens as a separate service under its own privacy policy. We don’t embed maps in our website, so no map cookies are set and no information is shared with Google through this site unless you choose to click through.

For full details of the specific cookies used, please see our Cookie Policy, generated and kept up to date by Complianz.

We do not currently use website analytics or advertising/tracking cookies.

Why we collect your information

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we must have a lawful basis for using your personal data. Our bases are:

  • Responding to your enquiry — our legitimate interest in answering people who contact us, or taking steps at your request.
  • Messages on our “River” wall — your consent, which you give when you submit a message and choose whether it is shown publicly or kept private. You can withdraw this at any time by asking us to remove your message.
  • Cookies that are not essential — your consent, which you give (or withhold) through the cookie banner.

Why we collect your information

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we must have a lawful basis for using your personal data. Our bases are:

  • Responding to your enquiry — our legitimate interest in answering people who contact us, or taking steps at your request.
  • Messages on our “River” wall — your consent, which you give when you submit a message and choose whether it is shown publicly or kept private. You can withdraw this at any time by asking us to remove your message.
  • Cookies that are not essential — your consent, which you give (or withhold) through the cookie banner.

How long we keep your information

We keep enquiry information only for up to 12 months after we’ve dealt with your query, then we delete it. 

Messages left on our “Memory River” wall are kept for up to two months after the festival, then we remove them, unless you ask us to remove your message sooner.

Booking information is held by Ticket Tailor under its own retention policy.

Who we share it with

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for marketing. We only share information where necessary with:

  • Ticket Tailor, our booking provider, when you make a booking (you provide this directly to them).
  • Our spam-detection tools: We use AntiSpam Bee, which checks for spam on our own website server, and Google reCAPTCHA, which may share submission data with Google to carry out its check. These help prevent spam and abuse on our contact form and message wall.
  • Service providers who help run our website. For example, our website hosting provider, SiteGround, which stores the website and its data securely on our behalf.
  • Anyone we are legally required to share it with, if the law requires us to.

Where your information is stored

Our website and its data are hosted with SiteGround. Your enquiry information reaches us by email. We take reasonable steps to keep your information secure.

Children's privacy

The Finn Valley Science Festival is a family event, and we welcome visitors of all ages. However, this website is not intended to collect personal information from children. Our contact form and our “River” message wall are intended to be used by adults (for example, a parent or guardian enquiring about activities and age suitability). <p”>Because messages on the “River” wall can be displayed publicly, we ask that they are submitted by adults only, and that no one includes a child’s name or personal details in a message. The feature does not ask for a name, and we review messages before they are shown publicly.

We ask that children do not submit personal information through this website. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with their information, or that a child’s details appear in a public message, please contact us at hello@finnvalleysciencefestival.ie and we will remove it.

Your rights

Under data protection law, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you
  • Correct information that is wrong or incomplete
  • Erase your information (“right to be forgotten”)
  • Object to or restrict how we use your information
  • Withdraw consent at any time (for example, for cookies)
  • Complain to a supervisory authority

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@finnvalleysciencefestival.ie.

You also have the right to complain to the Irish data protection authority:

Data Protection Commission 21 Fitzwilliam Square South, Dublin 2, D02 RD28 Website: https://www.dataprotection.ie

We ask that children do not submit personal information through this website. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with their information, or that a child’s details appear in a public message, please contact us at hello@finnvalleysciencefestival.ie and we will remove it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will change the “last updated” date at the top of this page. Please check back occasionally.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this policy or your personal data, please contact: