Sligo could host City of Culture events in 2020
SLIGO could play host to some prestigious European City of Culture events in 2020.
Members were told last week, that winning city Galway invited neighbouring counties, including Sligo, earlier this year to be a ‘ regional partner’ in certain projects.
A strong element of their winning application focused on a Regional dimension involving their neighbouring counties.
Councillor Jerry Lundy submitted a motion asking what the entire county of Sligo could do to benefit business wise and tourism wise from the “great success” of Galway city and county being designated ‘ European City of Culture 2020’.
Council official Margaret McConnell informed members in May, Galway City Council invited Sligo County Council to sign a Memorandum of Understanding confirming agreement in principle to work together to connect Galway and the wider region leading up to and including 2020.
The MoU will now be re- formulated to define a precise programme of implementation.
“Given the interest of Galway in the regional approach and the relations established to date, it is intended that this opportunity will be maximised as much as possible by Sligo leading up to an during 2020,” she added.
“It can increase tourism figures by up to 40 per cent,” said Cllr Lundy. “Over the next three years we could benefit if we can plug in and gain from 2020,” he said. Cathaoirleach Cllr Hubert Keaney said: “Like everything else, we have no budget for it. Fianna Fáil Cllrs in Galway raised Property Tax by 10 per cent so it’s wasn’t all that mad an idea.”