A European capital of culture is “radically different” from a national capital of culture due to its international dimension, Mr Green said, with the “norm” being that international events should make up over 50% of the programme .

A “dramatic illumination” of Connemara mountains, snapshots of Homer’s Odyssey on Galway beaches and tightrope walking across the river Corrib are among highlights of the Galway 2020 European capital of culture unveiled on Wednesday evening.

Up to 1,000 protesters will converge on Cork City next week as part of the bitter public opposition to the Government’s proposals to regulate septic tanks.