Former U2 tour manager is new city of culture director

THE post of director for the Cork 2005 European City of Culture was filled last night, just four days after the incumbent quit in controversial circumstances.

Cork city manager Joe Gavin announced that John Kennedy, a former production and tour manager with U2, is to take over the position vacated by Scotsman Bryan Beattie. He resigned the 90,000-a-year job last Monday before he was due to start work.

At the time Mr Beattie said: “I was not reassured by Joe Gavin, city manager of Cork City Council, that an appropriate working relationship could exist between the director and the city manager that would allow the successful undertaking of the job.”