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Galway 2020 artists and producers make 6 recommendations to CEOs of Galway city and county councils
Today Friday October 5th, following a meeting with the Galway 2020 bid book producers and the Chief Executive Officers of Galway City and County Councils, the following statement was agreed:
“The bid book producers called the meeting to address a number of concerns. The meeting was very constructive and positive. We impressed the urgency of key matters. We’re satisfied that the matters raised were understood and it was acknowledged that some were already under consideration. We have made a number of recommendations to the Chief Executives of Galway City and County Councils and they have committed to bringing these back to the board as a matter of urgency. We’re awaiting the outcome of the board’s discussion of those recommendations and they’ve agreed to further engage with us shortly.
The recommendations made were as follows:
Renew their partnership with the bid book producers
Utilise the existing expertise within the bid book to develop rapid, effective solutions
Work collectively with the group to renew the 2020 vision and programme
Address reduced artistic spend, the funding mechanism and cashflow management
Address communication concerns
Fill existing vacancies at board level with skilled and responsible leadership
The group welcomed the appointment of Patricia Philbin as CEO of Galway 2020 and look forward to working collaboratively with her.
The bid book producers and Galway 2020 are committed to working together in a collaborative approach to renew and reinvigorate the 2020 vision and programme. This however will need to be done within the confines of a reduced artistic spend.”
ENDS
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.
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