Limerick City of Culture has been hit by new controversy after an artist was booted out of a studio after creating a slogan in support of the project’s former artistic designer, Karl Wallace.

Why didn’t Michael Noonan just throw €6 million at his native city? He could have got somebody like Patricia Ryan to rebrand the city, going forward, adding value as she went, all the way to a performance-related bonus.

Limerick City of Culture chairman Pat Cox has said he must accept that people think there was political influence at work in his organisation, but has denied that this was the case.

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.

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.

The resignation of Limerick City of Culture artistic director Karl Wallace and two of his team may be a “blessing in disguise”.

The resignation of Limerick City of Culture artistic director, Karl Wallace, and two of his colleagues is a very inauspicious start to the year-long celebration.