County to benefit from City of Culture success

Editorial Department • Published 22 Jul 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Fermanagh will be one of the beneficiaries of Derry-Londonderry's success as UK City of Culture 2013.

That was a commitment from former chief executive of Fermanagh District Council, Aideen McGinley, who played one of the lead roles in the bid team who helped to win the title last Thursday.

She explained that their outline bid was made last autumn and their success at that stage enabled them to win through to become one of 28 cities bidding. Then a further detailed presentation got them onto a shortlist of four, alongside Sheffield, Birmingham and Norwich. However a huge amount of work was involved in the final stage which saw then convince the judges of their commitment and passion for arts and culture.

Mrs. McGinley, from Enniskillen, who is on secondment from the Department of Employment and Learning, to enable her to be chief executive of Ilex Urban Regeneration Company which has specific responsibility to manage and re-develop two former military bases of Ebrington (26 acres) and Fort George (14 acres), says there will be economic spin offs of 3,000 new jobs and great news for tourism for Northern Ireland in general.

The bid team had the support of all 26 councils and she said they would all share in the success.

Leading actors and literary figures had lent their support including Enniskillen actor, Ciaran McMenamin who led masterclasses.

She also praised two other Fermanagh women who were part of the team; Noelle McAlinden, as Culture Creative Adviser and Mary Blake on the tourism and marketing side.

With the euphoria that has erupted in the Maiden City since Thursday, Mrs. McGinley said the energy, creativity, and sheer spirit and passion had helped to win the backing of the judges.

Mrs. McGinley said, "There is no doubt that the city is on the cusp of change with a new emerging confidence and belief in its ability to transform.

"We are privileged to have been selected for this honour which will be truly transformational as we finalise our regeneration plans. It will give the people of the city who have been inspirational in their support and creativity, the confidence to move forward and seize the opportunity we now have. We look forward also to working with the other cities and all our partners."

The City of Culture bid proposes a programme of joyous celebration and purposeful inquiry with an ambitious cultural programme leading up to and including 2013. The year will open with a spectacular Sons and Daughters event, a contemporary music and dance festival, an international festival of contemporary visual art events, cultural embassies programme, verbal arts programmes, and an outdoor water based spectacular pageant on the River Foyle celebrating the return of Colmcille. The final cultural programme will be finalised by November 2011. Cultural Champions including Seamus Heaney and Feargal Sharkey will help bring culture to every citizen in the City and to a wider international audience.

Now the Derry-Londonderry bid team has plans to invest more than £200 million in its infrastructure to develop the former military site at Ebrington and pursue World Heritage Status for the City Walls.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 22 Jul 10

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