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Election candidates grilled about their policy on arts

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More than 200 people working in the arts in Galway City and County attended a meeting in the Radisson Hotel yesterday where 11 General Election candidates from Galway West and Galway East discussed their arts policy.

The event was organised by local members of the National Campaign for the Arts, a group which was set up over two years ago to lobby against cuts in funding in that area.

Yesterday’s meeting was one of four countrywide, with the other three taking place in Dublin, Cork and Limerick, and its aim was to make future TDs aware of the importance of the arts from a social and economic point of view.

Politicians from across the spectrum took part in yesterday’s meeting. They included Minister Éamon Ó Cuív (FF), Deputy Noel Grealish (Ind) Cllr Catherine Connolly (Ind) Cllr Tom Welby (Ind) Éamon Walsh (Ind), Senator Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green), Senator Fidelma Healy Eames (FG) and Cllr Derek Nolan, (Labour), all seeking to win a seat in Galway West. Sinn Féin’s candidate Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, who was unable to attend, sent a representative.

Cllr Paul Connaughton, (FG) Colm Keavney (Labour) attended from Galway East.

Each candidate spoke for up to five minutes and this was followed by a Question and Answer session. Groups represented at the meeting included Galway Arts Festival, Galway Film Fleadh, Baboró Children’s Arts Festival, Galway Arts Centre, The Cúirt International Festival of Literature, Druid Theatre and other groups and individuals working in the area.

 

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