January 11 - City of Culture: Leader readers respond

WE received a huge number of letters, emails and comments via social media on the recent controversies surrounding the City of Culture project, the following are representative of the views expressed to this newspaper - Alan English, editor.

This has left a nasty taste in my mouth

WE have been through a week in the national headlines and anyone who wants the best for Limerick must have felt embarrassed about how the City of Culture initiative went so badly wrong, to the extent that nobody was talking about what really mattered – the culture.

No, for the last few days it has all been about personalities and the whole thing has a left a nasty taste in my mouth.

However, despite that, I agree with comments made that the meeting held in the Clarion Hotel on Friday needed to happen and that all the bad feeling needed to be aired before the situation could be moved on.

It was also important that the public was kept informed of what was going on and the attempt to muzzle the media by excluding journalists from the meeting at the Clarion hotel was a total disgrace. I compliment the Limerick Leader for refusing to obey orders and for keeping people informed throughout the whole episode.

I would like to make one final point. I think it was terrible that people were attacked in such a personal way, in particular the CEO who has stepped down in a dignified manner, Patricia Ryan. This woman did not appoint herself – why castigate her?

As we move on from this, I hope that the poisonous words of some of those we have heard from (many from outside Limerick I should point out) are replaced by a more reasonable dialogue and discourse.

As quite a few people have already said, let’s get on with it now!

BRID O SUILLEABHAIN

WESTBURY, LIMERICK

Year is not about rebranding the city

Culture is defined as ‘the sum total of the environmental effects on an individual’. In this year of culture, we should show what Limerick has to offer; what one would experience living in or visiting the city.

It is not about rebranding the city or banning a realistic song. Art is about portraying the truth, the truth both visual and emotional and perception.

Bringing circuses from France is a con job. It should be a full picture - modern, conservative and historic, Gaelic, English and other heritages. As multi-coloured threads give beauty to the cloth, so do multi-cultures give urbanism to a community.

People like a ‘Latin Quarter’ because it is interesting and entertaining, something different; not closed conformity.

STEPHEN FALLON

BARRINGTON STREET, LIMERICK

Copy our previous project successes!

One would think we had never run a successful Limerick civic project before in our lives.

What about Treaty 300 or Limerick 800 previously. No drama, all voluntarily and most successful within their terms of reference. Please copy!

Brendan Woods

Cratloe, Co Clare

Let’s unite to get the year back on track

I started a Facebook page over two years ago called My Limerick with an ethos to promote the positive side of Limerick, its people, as well as the cultural and artistic aspects of the city’s life. To date this page has 1,140 members from all over the world which fills me with great pride. I feel it is a space where all can come together with one aim which is to either talk about, recall from past memory, or get to know this wonderful city, its people and its way of life.

However, I am appalled at the way our lovely city and its wonderful people is once again being portrayed in the national media because of the way the City of Culture has been run thus far. I have been involved all my life, as performer, teacher, judge and in organisational roles in every conceivable area of the arts in Limerick, (media, literature, drama, dance, stage, art and design); however, I am left with a feeling of utter despair at how the City of Culture has been managed to date.

There is a saying in Limerick, the curse of St Munchin – ‘Where natives will perish strangers will flourish’ – and I’m afraid the curse is alive and kicking in the mindsets of those who chose to go outside our city to hire people to organise a cultural and artistic event without consulting Limerick’s long standing and eminently qualified artistic and cultural community.

It’s about time now that Limerick people stood up and were counted. I am a great believer in looking after one’s own first before trying to help others or depend on outside help. Let’s work to ensure that the City of Culture gets back on track and that it is overseen by Limerick people, those who have been the life’s blood of Limerick’s artistic and cultural community and to whom those in the arts and culture of Limerick will turn long after the City of Culture draws to a close.

Mary Honan B.A. M.A. Ph.D

LIMERICK

Board was missing cultural credentials

THE reason people got upset was because the City of Culture board as constituted did not properly represent cultural life in Limerick. With the arrival of Mike Fitzpatrick, and new additions to the board, I hope this will no longer apply.

CONSTANCE DEVLIN

KILLALOE, CO CLARE

Will we make news in rest of big year?

i WILL be paying very close attention to the coverage afforded to the City of Culture year in Limerick by the national media and in particular by the national broadcaster, RTE.

They filled plenty of column inches and air time on the bad news that was the past week. Will they be as attentive when the good news emerges and Limerick’s year begins in earnest?

We shall see!

DEIRDRE O’LEARY

CAHERDAVIN LAWN, ENNIS ROAD, lIMERICK

Poetic take as the reset button is hit

Here is a poem inspired/provoked by the subject of Limerick National City of Culture 2014.

I thought the Limerick Leader an obvious place to send it to. All good wishes for 2014.

I will be taking stock of resourcing requirements

in the light of everyone else having resigned.

I am determined to hit the reset button.

I am moving on in a calm and deliberative way.

In the light of everyone else having resigned,

I’m absolutely satisfied we have the capacity.

I am moving on in a calm and deliberative way.

I would like to thank those who ran screaming from the building.

I’m absolutely satisfied we have the capacity.

It’s been a challenging start but we need to draw a line under this.

I would like to thank those who ran screaming from the building.

I may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

It’s been a challenging start but we need to draw a line under this.

I am humbled by what I’ve heard here tonight.

I may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

This is a lot more complicated than what actually happened.

I am humbled by what I’ve heard here tonight.

I am determined to hit the reset button.

This is a lot more complicated than what actually happened.

I will be taking stock of resourcing requirements.

KEVIN HIGGINS

CO GALWAY

Limerick the Lady can still deliver

Much has been said about the controversy surrounding the City of Culture and the particularly the appointment of the now resigned CEO.

The city manager explained his (unwise) haste in filling this post, by stating the pressure over funding etc. Since then we have had the debacle of the appointment/resignation, followed by the now familiar ‘Look what’s happening in Limerick’ mantra over the national airwaves.

The issue isn’t whether or not the CEO was suitable for the job, but the inappropriate way in which the appointment was processed. Limerick, it can be said, messed up again and in particular those in authority who are supposed to be setting an example to others.

However, all is not lost for the following reason. Limerick is still the capital of culture for 2014. Mistakes have been made, but they have been faced up to and that without any tribunal.

The chairman is around long enough to fully appreciate how people can make a perceived link between the CEO’s appointment and the fact that she was a past work colleage and he should have seen this coming. Now we have to move on and promote Limerick in the very best way possible.

There’s a long way to go in 2014. I have every confidence that ‘the Lady’ can deliver both at home and abroad

GERRY NUGENT

MEELICK, CO CLARE

Limerick shooting itself in the foot

If this was Dublin, Cork or Galway there would be no problem. Why are people so much against Limerick?

The people of Limerick who are stirring this up are shooting themselves in the foot. New Year’s Eve was the best ever and was so well organised in Limerick. Can people not see this? Do they just want things to go bad? Just shut up and let them get on with the job and do good for Limerick. I don’t know Cox or Ryan but they seem to have the experience and contacts.

Sarah Jones

via www.limerickleader.ie

Pat Cox and the ‘bump in the road’

Pat Cox trying to minimise this debacle with a dumbing-down catchphrase by calling it ‘a bump on the road’ is like saying Michael Schumacher hit a bump on the road when he was skiing.

Paddymickog

Via www.limerickleader.ie

Both sides deserve share of the blame

It is possible to think there is fault on BOTH sides, you know! As for PR, well, both sides have well and truly let Limerick city down; even the BBC is covering this appalling mess!

This was a real opportunity for Limerick to show itself off to the world in a positive light. Outside of Limerick no one cares about the personalities on either side, the fact that there are “sides” at all. At a time when Limerick should be showing a unifying and proud front to the world it is a sad and sorry shame. Maybe if this was less personality led, and rows and resignations had not been aired through the media, this wouldn’t be so damaging to our public reputation.

The whole shower of them are a disgrace and you and I are paying their wages with our taxes!

Piggyinthemiddle

Via www.limerickleader.ie

Why not give Mike the job full-time?

Why is Mike [Fitzpatrick] just the ‘interim’ head buck-cat? Why not let him do the job fully? That would avoid the chance of another mini-civil war. It seems that Mike is now the greatest thing since Patrick Sarsfield – the arty and learned ladies are positively swooning at his omnipotence! And Cox-up is gushing. Watch your back, Mike! It sounds too good to be true.

JOHN O’SHAUGHNESSY

Via www.limerickleader.ie

Mike will be there if going gets tough

At last someone who is suited to this role. Mike is a good head and has always been practical in his work and very approachable. You won’t find him walking away when the going gets tough.

Albert H

Via www.limerickleader.ie

Quitters and stayers at crucial times

There are quitters and stayers. Just as I was suspicious of Roy Keane when he quit in Saipan I would be equally distrustful of anyone who quits at a crucial time.

Achara

Via www.limerickleader.ie

Let’s not forget Karl, Maeve and Jo’s work

I am very proud that Karl, Maeve and Jo took such a stand but sad that it got to this. Let’s not forget their hard work.

HELENA ENRIGHT

via Twitter (@Hels75)

Proud of the people for affecting change

I’m very proud on how the people of Limerick rallied and affected change. The rest of the country should take note, not mock

John Loftus

Via Twitter (@eclectichighway)

People of Limerick, support new leader

Best wishes to Mike Fitzpatrick in his new job. People of Limerick, please support him.

SUZANNE KENNEDY

Via Twitter (@KennedySuzann)

Back to work, there’s a job to be done

Harmony is restored! Now back to work guys, ye have a City of Culture to run.

CATRIONA NASH

Via Twitter (@catrionanash)