No more Government funding for Cork 2005

THE TAOISEACH refused to commit further Government money to the European Capital of Culture in the Dáil yesterday, following criticisms that Cork 2005 had failed to raise adequate commercial sponsorship.

The government had already given large sums of money to Cork 2005, the Taoiseach said, in response to a question from Green Party TD Dan Boyle.

Cork City manager, Joe Gavin, has said he “wasn’t happy with the speed or thoroughness with which fund raising and sponsorship was put in place” by Cork 2005.

The organisers are operating with a budget of €15.5m, of which they expect to raise e7m from the private sector. Director of Sponsorship, Nigel O’Mahony, said this week that €5.9m had been raised and he was confident that the target would be achieved.

Cork 2005 Director John Kennedy strongly defended the sponsorship drive: “It’s been as thorough as it could have been given the resources and the time we’ve had and the attitude companies here have to sponsoring cultural events,” said Mr Kennedy.

President of Cork Chamber of Commerce, Roger Flack, said that businesses had been supportive although he was critical of the amount contributed by central government.

Mr Flack did admit, however, that a Cork 2005 drive to raise €1000 from 1000 businesses was “disappointing” and was a “poor performance” - only 140 of the 1,000 businesses responded favourably.

A difference of opinion emerged between Mr Flack, the City Manager and Cork 2005’s Nigel O’Mahony: Mr Flack said that “Cork Chamber of Commerce was not approached on a collective basis” to be part of the €1000 drive.

Joe Gavin and Nigel O’Mahony said the Chamber of Commerce was involved in the drive.

Mr O’Mahony, said they were on course to reach their commercial sponsorship target of €7m.