'In Waterford, we have fostered a culture of the council doing everything'
Waterford Cultural Quarter
At a recent meeting of the Metropolitan District Council, the success of Waterford Cultural Quarter (WQC) was hotly debated.
Sinn Féin Councillor Jim Griffin said “we’re missing a trick down there.”
He suggested that the council create a designated space for buskers on O’Connell Street.
Independent Councillor Dónal Barry suggested that GOMA gallery should be in the Cultural Quarter rather than on Lombard Street.
Fine Gael Councillor Frank Quinlan said that the area "needs to be more vibrant".
He mentioned the funding that local pub owners on O’Connell Street applied for to set up a music stage over the summer. The funding application was rejected, and Cllr Quinlan said, “We’re contradicting each other.”
Many of the councillors also spoke about how the closure of the Granary has led to a gap in eateries on O’Connell Street.
Social Democrat Councillor Mary Roche said, “I think sometimes in Waterford, we have fostered a culture of the council doing everything. We aren’t responsible for the food offering.
"Yes, between Number 9 now closing and the Granary, there’s a huge shortage of places in the city to go and have a good breakfast. That’s an opportunity for an entrepreneur, for a retailer, not the council.
"We do the Harvest Festival, we do Winterval, we do concerts, I mean, Council is contributing an awful lot.
"I’m quite sure that people who will come with ideas, with energy, will not be turned away from our doors. But I’d like to encourage people to do that because I don’t think we’re getting bang for our buck in terms of the amount of money that we’re investing in cultural events and development in our city.
"We’re all aware of people in the private sector who are complaining that there aren’t events right outside their door but meanwhile there are 10 thousand people passing their door when there are events on in the city.
"We need to encourage a little bit of independence and pushing the chicks out of the nest."
