The Irish Examiner View: Let’s plan a party!

It is fair to say that Galway’s plans for its year as European Capital of Culture have been repeatedly challenged. However, the greatest blow came yesterday when most staff in the company managing the event were laid off. The contract with the creative director for Galway 2020 has been scrapped too.

This is more than unfortunate as few cities can throw a party like Galway can — and it would have been a party the whole country could have enjoyed. It is just possible that some of the planned events may go ahead albeit under a different heading but the majority have, it seems, been cancelled.

This is as disappointing as it is inevitable. It is just one of many well-anticipated cultural or sporting events to fall victim to the pandemic. Maybe Galway can be awarded the next available slot as European Capital of culture?

The 1948 Summer Olympics were held in London less that three years after the last WWII shots were fired in a determined step back towards normality so there is precedent for a post-catastrophe carnival of rebirth — let’s start planning one right now, let’s be ready when that glad moment arrives..