It’s official – Cuirt is a national treasure!

Date Published: 23-Apr-2009

THE Cúirt International Festival of Literature has the reputation of being “one of Ireland’s great natural treasures”, said Director of the Arts Council Mary Cloake who officially launched the event at Galway City Museum on Tuesday.

“Cúirt’s influence on culture goes far beyond literature,” she added. “It has a reputation for hospitality to writers and for the atmosphere it creates for audiences.”

And she added that Galway Arts Centre, which hosts Cúirt, had remained loyal to the festival through good and bad times, allowing it to grow from humble beginnings to become a truly international event.

Ms Cloake pointed out that arts funding in Ireland directly funds 50,000 jobs which help to keep local economies going and are a focus for a five billion euro cultural tourism industry.

But…