It is “absolutely vital” that the full accounts of Galway 2020 are made open so the people can see just “how public money was spent”.
This is the view of Social Democrats’ Galway City East councillor, Owen Hanley, who was speaking following Galway officially ending its term as European Capital of Culture.
"There are serious answers needed to address the very genuine concerns amongst artists, businesses and the general public,” he said. "There's no doubt Galway 2020 never had a real chance to be what it could have been given the pandemic. However, the allocation of huge amounts of taxpayers money requires a public airing of the accounts."
'What could have been'
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Galway 2020 received more than €20 million in public finances, with €6 million coming from the Galway City Council and €4 million from the Galway County Council. In February 2020, city councillors voted 11 to five to refuse extra funding of €2.5 million to the company overseeing the year long series of events.
"It should have been a time to invest, support and amplify our amazing local artists,” said Cllr Hanley. He added that while some artists did see such support, others felt they “could not speak out” against what the councillor described as allegations of poor decision making and wrong priorities.
“There were some glimpses of what could have been with the spectacle of the programme launch in September 2019,” he said. “However, a loss of talent leading up to the official year and the cancellation of the Opening Ceremony which involved hundreds of local volunteers damaged momentum prior the Covid-19.”
