The Government have been partially blamed for causing the crisis at Limerick’s City of Culture due to a delay in funds going to projects and amid calls for the arts minister to intervene.

Limerick City of Culture’s former chief executive, Patricia Ryan, said the decision to quit was hers alone and that she was not forced out following the public and media backlash.

Chairman of Limerick City of Culture Pat Cox has defied calls for him to quit after his former political adviser resigned as the organisation’s chief executive yesterday.

Back in the year dot, St Munchin was building his church in Limerick and locals refused to help. Strangers who were passing came to his rescue and the church was built.

The decision by City of Culture chief Patricia Ryan to resign from the project has been welcomed by many in the artistic and cultural community in Limerick.

Jimmy Deenihan, the arts minister, has admitted knowing nothing about the row that led to the resignation of a key figure in the Limerick City of Culture project — because he was on his Christmas holidays.

MUCH has been said about Limerick’s seemingly troubled start as City of Culture, and there’s probably more to come. The Limerick arts community is concerned that culture is being over-shadowed.

It seemed like a great idea — build on the success of last year’s national Gathering, harness a growing movement to think and act locally and encourage Ireland’s arts community to focus their efforts in their own back yard.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has come out in support of the beleaguered CEO of Limerick City of Culture 2014, Patricia Ryan, whose appointment earlier this month has caused a storm of protest.

The appointment of the chief executive of Limerick City of Culture 2014 could cause reputational damage to the city, a councillor has claimed.