Sir, – I’m somewhat confused by Minister for Arts Jimmy Deenihan’s admission that he first learned of artistic director Karl Wallace’s resignation from a newspaper report (“City of Culture board to meet on new CEO”, Front Page, January 6th).
Is he aware that both his assistant secretary and the Arts Council director are full members of the City of Culture board? Their brief, presumably, is to represent the public interest and to monitor budgets and processes. Have they reported to him or to the Arts Council? Did the board keep them informed? Their views could be illuminating. – Yours, etc,
MEDB RUANE,
Sandford Avenue,
Donnybrook,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – I attended the opening of the new theatre at the Belltable Arts Centre by Minister for Arts Deenihan about two years ago. Before he could get up to speak, and as a speaker was making introductory remarks, an appalling din started up from an adjoining property involving the use of an angle grinder. Mr Deenihan saw and heard at first hand the difficulties the arts were facing in Limerick.
The Belltable, which apparently had run up substantial debts in developing the new theatre, went into liquidation soon after, leaving the beautiful theatre unused.
Before commissioning and sanctioning a City of Culture project, there should have been a review of the arts providers in Limerick, identifying where the challenges might exist, with a particular emphasis on identifying the reasons for the closure of the Belltable. With respect to all concerned in the recent events, their road map would have been far clearer. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL O’CONNELL,
South Mall,
Cork.
Sir, – How culturally appropriate that the template used by the Limerick City of Culture committee, for their inaugural proceedings, should follow the Brendan Behan model: Agenda Item One – The Split. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL O’GORMAN,
Huntstown Drive,
Mulhuddart,
Dublin 15.
Sir, – The stab-in-the-back City of Culture? – Yours, etc,
BRIAN AHERN,
Meadow Copse,
Clonsilla,
Dublin 15.
Sir, – Following the recent resignations, there may have to be a rescheduling in the City of Culture programme. May I suggest they call on Pat Cox? He does an excellent one-man show. – Yours, etc,
ADRIAN HONAN,
Austen House,
Portarlington,
Co Laois.
Sir, – Old political enmities resurfacing, calls for resignations, petulant intransigence demonstrated in the interest of the public. What chance now of Dr Richard Haass returning to solve the Limerick “arts” crisis? – Yours, etc,
EUGENE TANNAM,
Monalea Park,
Firhouse,
Dublin 24.