Galway City Council has invited representatives of the Galway Culture Company to attend a full council meeting to explain its activities to councillors since Galway won the European city of Culture competition in 2020.
Of particular concern is that the Galway Culture Company’s international lobbying might divert funds normally expected to flow into the local authority’s coffers to subvent arts and cultural events.
A spokeswoman for Galway Culture Company said the organisation has “no current EU Grant applications in submission format or otherwise. We do, however, provide advice and support to others wishing to advance EU funding opportunities.”
A number of councillors questioned council officials this week on City Hall’s relationship with the limited by guarantee company, originally established as joint entity by Galway’s city and county councils in 2016.
In an emailed response circulated to councillors by the city manager, Leonard Cleary, during the first full council meeting of 2025 on Monday, stressed that neither he nor City Council officials have roles with the Galway Culture Company on foot of a written question tabled by Councillor Níall McNelis (Lab ) before the meeting.
“The [council’s] chief executive has no role in the governance of Galway Culture Company,” wrote Cleary. “The composition and governance of the Board of Directors is solely determined by Galway Culture Company. There are no funding or support arrangements or commitments currently in place from Galway City Council to Galway Culture Company.”
“It seems like nearly every week I see on social media that members of the Culture Company are in Brussels, and they are not shy about that,” said Councillor Alan Cheevers (FF ). “Why was this organisation allowed to be set up as a private company when it was three per cent of the city’s rates that paid for 2020?” he asked.
“Will doors be closed to us [in Europe] because someone has gone ahead of us?” asked Councillor Mike Cubbard (Ind ).
“There is only one organisation that should be seeking international funding for Galway’s culture, and that’s us,” added Councillor Donal Lyons (Ind ).
Chairing the first council meeting of the year, Mayor Peter Keane (FF ) said in the interest of fairness, a Galway Culture Company representative was not present to respond to councillors’ queries, “and let's not blurt out all the questions we do want to ask them now,” he advised.
A spokesperson for Galway Culture Company told the Advertiser that a new invitation had been received “with thanks”, noting that a previous invitation to attend a council strategic policy committee (SPC ) meeting in April was not possible. “We thanked them for the kind invitation and asked if they could forward the schedule of meetings, so we could find a date that worked. Galway City Council did not return with any other dates,” she said.
