The launch of Cork 2005 European Capital of Culture took place last night in the city's Millennium Hall.
It was the start of the countdown to the huge event which will see a major cultural show take place in the art houses and on the streets of Cork every three days. There will be regular smaller events and artists, writers and musicians have been commissioned to produce work to coincide with the year-long festival.
The prestigious event is expected to cost €13.5 million but according to organisers another €5 million to €6 million is required. Yesterday Allied Irish Banks added its donation to those of the Government, the EU and other interested bodies.
Part of the programme was launched last night with laser shows and a theatrical-style fanfare. The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, current president of the European Council of Arts and Culture, said: "Cork is one of the country's most historic cities and is proud and honoured to accept this designation for 2005 on behalf of the people of Ireland.
"Cork is the smallest city to host this and it is of immense importance from a tourism perspective. Cork will become a cultural Mecca in 2005 and it will be of enormous benefit. This is a rare opportunity for this country - Ireland will not be eligible to seek it again until 2031," he said.
Mr O'Donoghue said the Cork School of Music was a matter of particular concern to many. The Taoiseach had taken a very special interest in the project and had reaffirmed the Government's commitment to solving its accommodation problem.
"Both the Taoiseach and the Minister for Education and Science have engaged with the preferred bidder for the School of Music project in order to progress the development. I understand that the Department of Education and Science expect to be presented with a proposal within the next week, which will hopefully pave the way for advancing this development."
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Colm Burke, said he was proud to accept the challenge ahead. "We are conscious of the responsibility that has been given to us and we are confident that Cork will deliver a programme that not only the people of Cork but everyone in this country, and indeed throughout the EU, can be proud of. We have been working very hard to ensure that Cork 2005, will have something for everyone, young and old," he said.
Cork 2005 director Mr John Kennedy, who was formerly tour director with U2, said the launch was the first of a number of important steps."We now have a programme and in the coming months we will have a number of other smaller launches of the various sections. In October we will have the European-wide launch and in early January 2005 we will kick off the whole thing with a spectacular event, which we are keeping secret.
"We won't have U2 in January - they don't perform well in the cold but maybe later," he said.