Councillors express anger with Culture Strategy

A cultural plan aimed at helping foster creativity “in every community” in Westmeath has been rejected by councillors, and referred back for further work.

At last week’s meeting of the council, members hit out at the make-up of the ‘Westmeath Culture Team’ committee that drew up the plan, and criticised the absence of reference to the Irish language in the document.

The ‘Westmeath Cultural and Creativity Strategy 2018-2022’ was drawn up by the seven-member Westmeath Culture Team made up of five officials from Westmeath County Council, and representatives of the Dean Crowe Theatre and the Luan Gallery in Athlone.

But councillors were furious that there was no elected member on the committee, and also, no representatives from either Mullingar Arts Centre or Belvedere House, Gardens and Park on the team.

There was also criticism by Sinn Féin of the lack of focus on the Irish language in the document.

Council cathaoirleach Cllr John Shaw suggested, after a debate on the strategy, that it be referred back to the appropriate Special Policy Committee for further consideration.

“I can see we’re not going to get this approved at today’s meeting,” he pointed out.

“It’s clear there are issues relating to the strategy itself and it’s clear there are issues in relation to the strategy committee,” he stated.

It was Cllr Ken Glynn who led the criticism over the make-up of the committee, whose members are: David Hogan, director of services with Westmeath County Council; Miriam Mulrennan, Westmeath County arts officer; Hugh O’Reilly, head of the Community Development section of Westmeath County Council; Paula O’Dornan, acting county librarian; Gayle Tarmey, manager of the Dean Crowe Theatre and Arts centre in Athlone; Aedín McGinn, assistant manager of Athlone Arts and Tourism Ltd; and Melanie McQuade, Westmeath heritage officer.

“We’re very lucky with the make-up of the committee we have at this current time – a good wealth of experience and a good wealth of people who bring a lot to the table,” said Cllr Glynn.

“But,” he continued, “as a Mullingar-based public representative, I’m concerned at the lack of membership from, say, Mullingar Arts Centre or Belvedere House and Gardens,” said Cllr Glynn, adding that there was “a huge imbalance” there from the point of view of the northern end of the county.

Also, he continued, there should have been an elected representative on the committee.

“I have no issue with the document, but I have an issue with the make-up of the committee,” he said.

Support came from Cllr Mick Dollard, who said he failed to understand why there wasn’t an SPC chairperson on the committee. He criticised the executive for drawing up a committee which had no input from local representatives.

“It doesn’t make sense,” he said, asking who on the committee was going to represent “the ordinary Joe Soap”.

Cllr Una D’Arcy shared the concerns raised by Cllrs Dollard and Glynn, but also went on to ask about the committee “culture”, and criticising their strategy for not being broad enough.

“Culture is anything that brings people together,” argued Cllr D’Arcy, saying it also takes in groups such as church groups and the ICA and adding that culture belongs to everyone.

She accused the strategy document of culture as just another word for art.

Joining the call to have Belvedere House or the Arts Centre on the Westmeath Culture Team were Cllrs Brian Crum and Paul Hogan. Cllr Hogan said he felt there were other cultural groups that could also have been represented on the committee such as Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

Cllr Hogan also argued that the strategy drawn up by the Culture Team failed to adequately recognise the cultural value of the Irish language.