Michael D’s PR man ‘put skids under’ Galway 2020

Bradley Bytes – A Sort of Political Column with Dara Bradley 

President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, was asked to write a foreword for the cultural programme of the Galway 2020, European Capital of Culture.

And President Higgins – a lover of culture and Galway – duly wrote an opening address in the programme, that was launched last September.

It was quite the coup for Galway 2020 to secure the services of Uachtarán na hÉireann.

But documents released under Freedom of Information (FOI) reveal that the foreword by the Irish head of State might not have materialised – due to a lack of communication between Galway 2020 and Áras an Uachtaráin.

Hans Zomer, Head of Communications and Information at the Áras, wrote to the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht last June, looking for information to include in the foreword, because he hadn’t been contacted by Galway 2020.

Hans emailed an official in the Department suggesting Galway 2020’s lack of contact, meant that President Higgins might not be able to do the foreword.

The email – released under FOI – said: “From the earlier messages I had understood there was a certain degree of urgency with this request.

“Can you chase Galway 2020 again, as I haven’t heard from them and, as a result, will not be able to suggest to the President he write a foreword.

“I hope you can communicate to them that the President has a very busy schedule and that if there is indeed an urgency with this request that it is imperative that they leave time for the President to fit this into his existing commitments. Thank you. Hans.”

Let’s hope Galway 2020 are not as lackadaisical with other important elements of the yearlong celebration of culture.

For more Bradley Bytes see this week’s Galway City Tribune