Waterford has made a strong bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2005. A detailed programme of events has already been drawn up for the city, which faces competition for the title from Cork, Galway and Limerick.
A successful bid would see Waterford receive the biggest investment in arts and cultural programmes in the city's history, with the Government prepared to put a maximum of £5 million into the event, £750,000 to come from the EU and matching funds to be generated locally.
The planning in Waterford is meticulous. An executive committee overseeing the bid includes the mayor, Mr Davy Daniels; the city manager, Mr Eddie Breen; the chairman of Bord Failte, Mr Redmond O'Donoghue; concert promoter Mr Vince Power and U2's tour manager, Mr Dennis Sheehan.
A development team of senior staff from Waterford Corporation and the theatre and performance company, Spraoi, has been set up.
In a detailed submission to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, the corporation says local authority spending on the arts in Waterford is, according to the Arts Council, already the highest per capita in the State.
"European Capital of Culture would not be just an event in Waterford; it would be a natural extension of what is already happening in the city," the submission says. Some 78 organisations and individuals, most of them involved in arts in the city, were consulted in the preparation of the application, which includes a preliminary programme of events.
A new music festival, Irish and European film seasons, a storytelling festival, photographic exhibitions, a festival of arts for children, and an extended Spraoi weekend comprise part of what is envisaged.
In addition to the draft programme of events for 2005, it is proposed that activities begin at community level the preceding year. The promoters claim this would create a sense of ownership of the project and encourage participation in the programme by the people of Waterford.
A decision on the applications is expected early next year. Corporation officials are said to be "cautiously optimistic" that Waterford's bid will succeed. The event was last held in Ireland in 1990, when Dublin was the host.