Derry City Council is being called on to bid for the Irish City of Culture title.
The call comes as Derry approaches the end of its successful year as UK City of Culture.
Sinn Fein Councillor Barney O’Hagan wants the Council to formally bid for the title and to seek an urgent meeting with Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) Minister Carál Ní Chuilín to discuss the logistics of the bid and how it could be best delivered.
The proposal is due to be discussed by councillors in a motion to be put forward by Cllr O’Hagan at tomorrow’s meeting of Derry City Council.
Cllr O’Hagan’s motion reads: “That Derry City Council formally bids for the title of Irish City of Culure and seeks an urgent meeting with the DCAL Minister to discuss the logistics of this bid and how it could be best delivered.”
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan announced in July this year that Limerick would next year be the first National City of Culture.
The aim of the National City of Culture – to be held every two years – is to deliver a programme of cultural events and seek to bring artists, arts organisations, local authorities and civic groups that are working in a city together through the design of a calendar of events.
Limerick’s year-long celebration of culture, both local and international, kicks off on New Year’s Eve when Cranberries front woman Dolores O’Riordan will headline a concert in front of City Hall.
The Ballybricken rock star will be joined by the Irish Chamber Orchestra. A crowd of nearly 3,000 people will attend the ticket-only gig which is to be broadcast by RTÉ.
January will will also see Limerick host the launch of the eagerly-awaited 20th anniversary Riverdance world tour.
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