Council Chief rows back on Galway 2020 ‘wind down’ comment

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Galway 2020, the company set up to deliver the European Capital of Culture this year, is not being wound down, Brendan McGrath has said.

And the Chief Executive of Galway City Council has raised the prospect of a ‘viable and vibrant programme of events’ taking place as part of Galway 2020 later this year.

Mr McGrath this week rowed back on remarks he made during a conference call with city councillors a fortnight ago that there would be an ‘orderly winding down’ of Galway 2020.

That followed Galway 2020’s decision to temporarily lay off 19 of its 30 staff members. It had also terminated its contract with UK-based creative company Artichoke and significantly reduced its cultural programme due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Mr McGrath this week said the ‘orderly winding down’ he referred to was not to be taken literally, in the context of the Companies Act, where a wind-down refers to the closing of a company.

“What I had intended to convey in using the words that I spoke is that the company intended to contract very significantly and to reduce its programming to minimal levels in accordance with its budgetary situation. I did also say in my contribution that ultimately I was unaware as to what a ‘wind down’ might look like or what form it might take,” said Mr McGrath this week.

He has apologised for any “confusion” his use of the term ‘orderly wind down’ has caused.

Mr McGrath, in an update to Councillor John Connolly (FF), also raised the prospect of Capital of Culture events taking place in the city and county later this year.
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