Derry~Londonderry City of Culture final pitch
The team leading the bid to be UK City of Culture 2013 made their final presentation earlier today.ÌýAt 930 this morning in Liverpool, the team gotÌý20 mins toÌýlay out their stallÌýandÌýthenÌýwere grilled for over an hour and half by the judging panel, led by Phil Redmond. According to the people in the room it was "robust" and concentrated on key themes of "community and leadership".
Among the bid team, the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. In his speech to the judgesÌýhe spoke about theÌýlast few days in DerryÌýin the wake of the Saville Report. I spoke to him after and asked why he felt he had to raise this?Ìý
He said the impetus to talk about it had come from comments made to him from the momentÌý he arrived in Liverpool,Ìýat both a public reception last night hosted by the Mayor of Liverpool for all 4 bidding cities and even before they started their presentation this morning.ÌýMany of them saidÌýthey were really struck byÌýthe images they had seen on the tv on Tuesday.ÌýDeclan Kelly the US Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland with the United States government was also in the room. He talked about how the scenes from the Guildhall SquareÌýwere front page newsÌýin the NewÌýYork Times.
But isn't there aÌýworry I askedÌýMartin McGuinness that this could go against the city? WhenÌýyou have the Prime Minister David Cameron apologising for Bloody Sunday, it could be said that Derry has had its moment in the sun andÌýthisÌýglobal publicity could go against the bid.ÌýHe didn't agree, saying one was the past, the bid was looking forward to a better future.
He's also a Derry man so he would say that! But the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is also a Sheffield man. Could this go in Sheffield's favour? According to Martin McGuinness, every time he has met David Cameron,Ìýthe PMÌýends their meetings saying good luck for the bid. Mmmmm. Political machinations! I wonder does he say the same to Nick?
Comment number 1.
At 27th Jun 2010, kierantherock wrote:I feel it should take a lot more than just elequent bidding and political wand waving to convince those who decide whether Derry/Londonderry is really ready to hold the title "city of culture". The fact we cannot agree on it's name, deface each others "cultural" street art, have a devided often angry flash point situation is still a worry. Do not get me wrong, I think for the most part the folk in this city are very fine, and totally welcoming. They also make huge efforts to show the world their interesting cultural heritage. I think it will hinge on how the summer goes. I hope it is a peaceful one and maybe they can pull it off.
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