Wexford County Council has endorsed the combined Three Sisters European Capital of Culture 2020 bid

THE LOCAL authorities in counties Wexford, Waterford and Kilkenny have unanimously endorsed their combined ‘Three Sisters’ bid to win the title of European Capital of Culture (ECoC) 2020.

The respective County Councils have adopted a Regional Cultural Strategy which they will work together on to roll out between now and 2025.

In addition they have also voted to approve the budget for the ECoC bid which is entering its final weeks of preparation before the judging committee visits the region ahead of making its decision on July 15.

If the Three Sisters bid is successful it’s estimated that the €31m to be invested in the cultural programme will yield €170m for the region.

Even if the bid isn’t’ successful the three local authorities will use the priorities and goals identified in the Regional Cultural Strategy to develop partnership cultural initiatives throughout the region.

Speaking about the endorsement of the bid and the adoption of the cultural strategy, the overall bid Director, Michael Quinn, said:“This is an historic occasion. It’s unprecedented for three county councils to come together in partnership through culture to develop a region. The unanimous support from each of the three councils for our bid has been a significant aspect of our success to date.””

“We now have a unifying, cultural strategy, that will guide our region forward and create a stronger legacy for our future generations,” he added.

The Chairperson of Wexford County Council, Cllr. Tony Dempsey, said the partnership could prove very beneficial not just for Wexford but for the entire region.

“It will be the blueprint for strong regional collaboration for years to come,” he said.

“This is an exciting time for Wexford, Kilkenny and Waterford as we continue to work together in partnership.”

The Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr, Mary Hilda Cavanagh, said her local authority was delighted to endorse the bid: “We will become the place to visit in Europe and [this is] a unique example of what a partnership approach can achieve.”

She also said opportunities for the region “will be immense”.

The Mayor of the City and County of Waterford, Cllr. John Cummins, also expressed delight at the partnership and said: “If successful, this will be a significant game changer for Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny, and indeed the entire South East region.”