Dorgan attacks business sector over Cork 2005

POET Theo Dorgan criticised corporate Cork last night for its failure to financially back the city’s Capital of Culture project.

The Cork-born poet who sits on the board of the Cork 2005 company also launched a broadside against those who are constantly criticising the project.

“I have no patience, none whatsoever with the knockers,” he said.

In defence of Cork 2005, Mr Dorgan, who represents the Arts Council on the board, said: “All of those who are working on the project are well aware of the immense achievement it is for Cork to be named the European Capital of Culture. They are dedicated to its success.”

He said it wasn’t too late for businesses to dig deep into their pockets.

“Cork’s business community has made a lot of money from the citizens of Cork over the years and now is time to put some of it back into the city. A bigger budget would allow the project programmers to include more artists and events.”

Mr Dorgan was speaking in the city over the weekend during World Book Day celebrations, part of the Cork 2005 programme.

He also hit back at claims that certain artists were being blocked from taking part in the Capital of Culture programme. Musician John Spillane claimed that Cork’s traditional and folk musicians had been snubbed by organisers.

“There is no wilful blocking of any artist or event on the part of anyone involved in the project,” he said.

However, he admitted the project wasn’t perfect.

“The reality of any project, which has a finite budget, is that ‘dead or alive’ decisions simply have to be made,” he said. “Communication could be better. This is partly due to budget restraints. It is also due to having to rely on the local media for public exposure but with no effective control of how that exposure is handled,” he said.

Mr Dorgan was “particularly disappointed the Irish language had been largely ignored within the project”.

Meanwhile, figures released by the Cork 2005 office claim more than 350,000 people attended official cultural events in the first quarter of the year.

This includes attendance at exhibitions and performances from the Cork 2005 programme as well as the attendance of 100,000 at the opening celebrations in January and the 70,000 people who attended the city’s inaugural St Patrick’s Festival.