Cork's hosting of the European Capital of Culture received a boost yesterday when Cork 2005 and RTÉ announced details of a major media partnership worth in excess of €1 million. The deal will result in the national broadcaster covering the year-long event.
According to Cork 2005 press and information manager Ms Aoife Carlin the RTÉ deal is one of a number of sponsorship commitments from various companies and organisations who have to date pledged a total of €4.7 million in cash and benefit-in-kind to the programme.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Seán Martin, who signed the partnership agreement on behalf of Cork 2005 with RTÉ's director general, Mr Cathal Goan, at Cork City Hall yesterday morning, said that the Capital of Culture was the biggest event to happen in Cork since the Great Exhibition 100 years ago.
"Cork holds this designation on behalf of the state and RTÉ's support will give us the platform to make our programme as accessible as possible to the Irish people. It is also central in enabling us to build an artistic and cultural legacy for the city in the years to come," he said.
Mr Goan said that RTÉ was delighted to follow on from its extensive coverage of Ireland's presidency of the EU by continuing its European focus through becoming Cork 2005's premier partner.
"We will be working very closely with the event organisers and the city of Cork to bring the best of the year-long programme to our audiences on air, in print and on the web."
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