Pat Cox to head Limerick City of Culture initiative

Former European Parliament president Pat Cox will head a group which will drive the Limerick City of Culture 2014 initiative, it was announced yesterday.

He will be joined by Riverdance composer Bill Whelan and rugby international Paul O’Connell.

Limerick was announced some months ago as the first National City of Culture for 2014.

A National City of Culture will be selected every two years, with the designation itself lasting for one calendar year.

Mr Cox said he was delighted and honoured to chair the group.

“The aim of the initiative is to deliver a programme of cultural events and engagement in Limerick for 2014, but also a programme which has a longer-term positive impact,” he said.

“The designation is also an opportunity to showcase what we know to be the real Limerick in terms of its personality.”

Mr Cox said: “Such a designation by Government for the city is historic; it will provide a new direction for Limerick, more than 800 years after its original charter, to embody the potential of a city of culture — encompassing art, design, technology, and sport in all their myriad interacting and creative forms.

“The delivery of a National City of Culture within a year planning window is demanding but achievable. Part of my role as chair will be to listen to the wider community and develop from the ground up a programme of international significance for Limerick, for Munster and for Ireland.”

Director of The Arts Council, Orlaith McBride has also accepted a position on the driving group.

Meanwhile, Bill Whelan said: “Limerick now has a golden opportunity to showcase its unique cultural gifts in the arts and sport, and to celebrate what Limerick people believe is excellent about our city. I am proud to be asked to be involved in this historic endeavour.”

Paul O’Connell said he was especially proud of the unique culture of sport in Limerick: “It’s our heartbeat, our passion and what makes us tick. I’m looking forward to a vibrant programme of events for 2014 and helping to build on the long and distinguished history of the arts in Limerick and creating a legacy that we can all benefit from.”

Limerick city and county manager Conn Murray said it was not just a cultural project, but about re-imagining Limerick as “an antidote to scepticism”.

“It is a chance to talk about the conflict between the cliché of our city and the hidden values of our city — it’s time to refresh the positive hidden values. Limerick must be recognised as an international cultural centre by the end of 2014 and we should think of culture in an integrated way, with regards to social policy, regeneration and tourism. It must be a hook, a force of change for good,” he said.

The first draft of the programme for Limerick City of Culture 2014 will be officially launched in June.