Plenty of pirates and a peculiar sculpture

I CALLED into the European Capital of Culture 2005 offices on Patrick Street in Cork on several occasions, looking for something of actual European culture.

They had nothing in any European language, not even the most miserable fridge magnet. There was nothing readily available except in English.

This policy of excluding all languages other than English as much as possible was already manifest even before the end of 2005.

The most shameful contrast was the treatment of our native culture, particularly the lack of support for the Oireachtas. Compare that with the way that they went outside the boundaries of the city to honour pirates such as Raleigh in Youghal and Drake in Carrigaline.

Did the organisers of Cork 2005 really care? The answer seems to be shown by their last contribution to Cork - the sculpture of a misshapen phallus outside the Clarion Hotel. The management of the Clarion Hotel must either have a strange sense of humour, or a strange sense of advertising.

Cian Ó Sé

Locharn

Tobar Rí an Domhnaigh

Corcaigh