Culture Minister avoided Galway for 2020 re-launch

Bradley Bytes – a sort of political column with Dara Bradley

It wasn’t just the public who was confused about Galway 2020’s messaging last year, its main funder, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht Sport and Media, had reservations, too.

On August 11, Sarah McDonagh, then PR manager with Galway 2020, emailed Department officials a copy of the announcement of the European Capital of Culture’s ‘re-imagined programme’, that was due to be unveiled two days later.

It was sent in advance to be vetted by the GIS, Government Information Services, which controls and syncs the messaging of Government.

Department official Sinéad O’Hara replied “with some suggestions”.

She pointed to two paragraphs in the proposed press statement, “which seems to infer in some cases that there can be a choice to attend events in person or online.”

“This will need to be cleared up,” said Sinéad, who kindly offered her help.

Sarah wasn’t so sure, though. “We gave a lot of consideration to the wording around this section, for the reasons you’ve identified,” she wrote in reply.

“We believe that we’ve made the necessary distinction. For example, we’ve stated that audiences will be able to experience ‘elements of the programme online’ and include ‘both live and digital components’, so we haven’t stated anywhere that a project can be experienced in its entirety online and in person.”

So that’s okay then! Nonetheless, Sarah invited Sinéad to “identify where you have specific concerns and we can review”.

The “minor” changes relayed by Sinéad, were subsequently accepted by GIS and Galway 2020.

Meanwhile, Sarah McDonagh, in her original email, had said that Galway 2020, “would be delighted if you could support the announcement across your social (media) channels”.

Sinéad confirmed the Department would support the launch on its social media.

“We are not yet clear if the Minister will directly tweet as she is officially on leave. However, we have enquired about a tweet welcoming the programme announcement and will hopefully hear back,” she added.

Glancing back at Minister Catherine Martin’s tweets from last August, there’s no sign she composed one to welcome the programme announcement.

Minister Martin did find time to tweet “well done” to a local soccer club in Dundrum, which she was visiting on August 13. It had organised, “fantastic summer camps for boys and girls from the community and beyond!”

Soon after, Minister Martin, a Green Party TD, headed off on her holidays – but not to the European Capital of Culture!

The family staycation was apparently supposed to take place in Galway, but the plan changed, according to internal emails released under Freedom of Information (FOI).

Christine Sisk of Culture Ireland emailed an official in Minister Martin’s Department, Conor Falvey, to confirm that she would keep them in the loop regarding media interest in the Galway 2020 re-launch.

“Are there still plans for her (the Minister) to go to Galway?” Christine asked.

“I don’t think so. I think she may be in Clare over the weekend and in Kerry next week,” he replied.
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