Limavady hopes to ‘piggyback’ City of Culture

Suggestions were made at the local council for festivals and events in Limavady to mirror the programme recently launched in Londonderry for their year as City of Culture.

Ideas were floated by elected representatives, such as holding a parallel celebration of Danny Boy in Limavady, whilst “the children, adults and choirs of Derry come together for a massive outdoor performance” as part of the ‘100 Years of Danny Boy’ event due to take place during June in Londonderry as part of the City of Culture Celebrations.

Other ideas were suggested, such as bringing Limavady’s connection with Saint Colmcille to the fore whilst Frank Cottrelll Boyce, Walk the Plank and a team of artists drawn from all over Ireland tell the story of Colmcille through “pageantry, procession and spectacle” due to unfold in early June as part of the heavily marketed City of Culture programme of events.

Councillors debated the best way to take advantage of the opportunities of 2013 during a meeting of council last week. The discussions focussed on a number of topics for the opportunities presented in 2013.

DUP Councillor James McCorkell stated: “If we can tie in with the UK City of Culture in Londonderry then all the better. If we can get footfall into the town, so the better.”

SDLP Councillor Michael Coyle explained the council’s thinking: “This is really a marketing tool, working in tandem with City of Culture. I’m told businesses are already working in tandem with the programme (of events).”

His party colleague Gerry Mullan added: “There is nothing wrong with us ‘piggybacking’ with the City of Culture.”

Meanwhile, elected representatives at Stormont also debated how Londonderry’s year as UK City of Culture might also benefit towns such as Limavady or Strabane next year.

Sinn Féin MLA Raymond McCartney asked the Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín “whether the recently published programme of events for the Derry/Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 is sufficiently inclusive and has a wide enough scope to deliver for the entire north-west region?”

Ms Ní Chuilín replied: “The City of Culture bid included a commitment to deliver benefits to the north-west. Although most events will take place in Derry city, the 2013 programme provides opportunities to achieve positive change for all.

“The 2013 programme provides opportunities for people across the North to attend international events on their doorstep. It also provides opportunities for accommodation providers to benefit from increased visitor numbers and spend.

“The north-west will be showcased during 2013, and neighbouring areas and communities should maximise the opportunity by hosting complementary events. Arts organisations and businesses in the north-west have a great opportunity to build capacity in 2013.

“The Culture Company has engaged with, for example, Strabane, Limavady and Donegal and helped to plan projects in Bready and Strabane and Donegal’s On Home Ground project.”