A celebration of the culture heritage of Europe planned for Cork has received funding from all 27 EU member states bar one — our own.
Ambassadors from 26 EU member states have agreed to pledge up to €700,000 to Cork City Council to organise a festival that was planned to take place in May 2013.
Despite this support, our own Government do not want to provide the 350,000 required to get it up and running — because they want any such event of this size to be held in Dublin.
That was the message given to councillors by officials, according to Cllr Kenneth O’Flynn — who originally proposed hosting the multicultural event through a motion he tabled in City Hall.
‘Kaleidoscope’ was to be an interactive street festival that would include the food, music, dance and art of various European countries.
Each country would have a stand to display their industry, culture, food and beverage.
Cllr O’Flynn told the Evening Echo he was aghast to find out the event planned for Cork was now in jeopardy.
“We understand that €700,000 has been pledged by the ambassadors of all the EU states. However, our own Government won’t provide the money. And the reason, we were told, is that any event of this size must be staged in Dublin.”
The council had hoped to receive the financial support through either the funds set aside for The Gathering — a tourism drive taking place through 2013 — or the money provided to mark Ireland’s reign in the EU presidency next year.
Cllr O’Flynn said if the event does go ahead it looks extremely likely that it would be held in Dublin.
Cllr O’Flynn stated, “It would be incredibly short sighted of the Government not to take advantage of Cork’s EU standing as a former Capital of Culture. The city has a rich history of diverse culture and is ideal to showcase the diversity of the cultures within the EU and beyond. The event if held has the potential to draw in thousands of people into the city, filling our hotels and helping our retail, food and beverage sector as well as drawing attraction from international media.”