Galway 2020: No closure on opening ceremony costs saga

Bradley Bytes – a sort of political column by Dara Bradley

Galway 2020, the company set up to deliver the European Capital of Culture this year, advised officials in the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht in February that costs associated with its aborted opening ceremony in Claddagh “were still being assessed”.

At a meeting with officials, minutes of which were released under Freedom of Information (FOI), “it was noted that much of the cost and activity” relating to the opening ceremony that was cancelled due to Storm Ciara, “were realised, including county events and community engagement over a sustained period”.

Interestingly, even though the costs were “realised” (that is, spent), it wasn’t recorded in the minutes how much Galway 2020 actually spent on the abandoned ceremony.

Fast forward five months to July, and Patricia Philbin, CEO of Galway 2020, who was at that February meeting with Department officials, was again asked about the opening ceremony costs.

This time it was City Councillors probing but the response was similar.

Galway 2020 at a meeting of Galway City Council, could not clarify a breakdown of the total €2.3 million costs to the organisation – and by extension the taxpayer – of the cancelled opening ceremony that was due to go ahead in The Swamp in the Claddagh.

An insurance claim is pending, but surely the public has a right to know how exactly its money has been spent?

How much did the stage cost, for example? Does the final outlay include travel and accommodation costs for VIPs guests such as 10 EU Ambassadors to Ireland who were due to attend? Were the MCs and performers, who were booked months in advance, paid retainers? And so on and so on.

Galway Senators Pauline O’Reilly (Greens) and Ollie Crowe (FF) have called for a full breakdown of how Galway 2020 has spent a total €18m to date. Not another cent of public money should be handed over, until that breakdown is provided.
For more Bradley Bytes, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.