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 .

Galway has been awarded the title of European Capital of Culture for 2020, beating off Limerick and the Three Sisters cities of Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford.

MICHAEL CACOYANNIS, the Cyprus-born filmmaker and screenwriter who directed the 1964 film classic Zorba the Greek, starring Anthony Quinn, has died in an Athens hospital.

American film director Jules Dassin, whose Greek wife Melina Mercouri starred in his hit movie 'Never On Sunday' and six more of his films, has died in Athens at 96.