No more Council cash for Culture Capital

COUNCILLORS in Galway city have voted not to sanction an extra €2.5 million in funding for the 2020 European Capital of Culture project.

Galway City Council Chief Executive, Brendan McGrath, had requested the extra funding to pay for an ‘additional programme of international projects’.

These projects, said Mr. McGrath – in a report presented to councillors – would engage the local community in Galway through participation and outreach opportunities ‘showcasing the wide talent contained within the city [Galway].

Independent city councillor, Colette Connolly said at Monday’s City Council meeting, that she was ‘bamboozled’ by the request for more money by the Chief Executive and added that she was ‘sick, sore and tired’ of councillors being branded as negative on 2020 issues.

Cllr. Ollie Crowe (FF) said that already €10.5 million of local taxpayers’ money was being pumped into 2020, adding that far more clarity was needed on the costs involved with the project. “I just think it’s a case of enough is enough,” said Cllr. Crowe.

His party colleague, Cllr. Peter Keane, said that they had already been told that the bid was fully funded and now more money was being looked for. “The figures are clouded: enough is enough. No more money should go into this,” he said.

However, a number of councillors supported the extra allocation for the Galway 2020 project. Independent councillor Donal Lyons said that while €2.5 million was a lot of money, this was a once-off project for the city that could still deliver a huge return.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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