The city of St. Finbarr” “

Cork is the smallest city – less than 123,000 inhabitants – ever to have received the honour of being European Capital of Culture. It is the second city of the Republic of Ireland, with a population of 123,000 inhabitants and a tradition hallowed not only by literature, music and film but also by art and faith, as recalled by Father Tom Hayes , who heads the social communications office of the diocese of Cork and Ross, in a conversation with our correspondent, Silvia Guzzetti. FAITH AND TRADITION. “The role of Cork as European capital for 2005 is inseparable from the city’s Christian history. This year’s events are an occasion to testify our tradition of faith to Ireland and to the rest of Europe”, says Father Tom Hayes, director of the social communications office of the diocese of Cork and Ross. “At Cork”, he explains, “the townscape is punctuated by churches and it’s impossible not to be reminded of our religious past. Those who participate in the events of 2005 will also have a chance to get to know the city’s religious traditions, an important witness: it’s enough to think of the role of St. Finbarr, patron of Cork which traces its own origins back to a monastery founded by the saint”. The most important religious events on the programme of Cork European Capital for 2005 include the day dedicated to St. Patrick, on 17 March, with a series of celebrations throughout the day, and the feast of ‘Corpus Christi’, on the last Sunday in May, when a procession of several thousand people will wind their way through the streets of the city and the bishop of Cork Msgr. John Buckley will celebrate Mass together with the Catholic Primate of England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, whose family comes from the city. Invalids will also be blessed and the Holy Sacrament exposed during the day. “I don’t know all the details of the programme planned in Cork for 2005”, adds Father Hayes, “but some aspects are of particular interest. The musical programme will include orchestral and choral concerts in the city’s churches. The Crawford Municipal Art Gallery will hold an exhibition of rare objects of gold and silver lent by Irish and foreign museums, religious bodies, societies and private collections”. “I would not draw any clear separation between the religious and cultural aspects”, comments Hayes, “the two are difficult to separate and form our tradition”. INVOLVING THE PEOPLE. The challenge given to Cork by Europe is not easy: Cork has at its disposal a budget for the celebrations limited to 13.5 million Irish pounds, just a fifth of that Liverpool will have in 2008. Yet the inauguration of the year did the city proud. The inaugural days on 8-9 January, which launched a packed programme of some 4000 events, had as their climax the emergence of a serpent 1600 metres long from the waters of the river Lee: a majestic effect to commemorate the monster slain by St. Finbarr in the seventh century. The organizers of “Cork European Capital for 2005” decided that the accolade bestowed on the city will serve to involve the whole population in its cultural life for the first time. The programme planned for 2005 comprises some 4000 events ranging from organ recitals to jazz, from folk to choral music, from cinematic to theatrical events, from poetry readings to sporting and literary contests. Nor are offbeat events lacking, such as the attempt to produce the largest piece of knitwear in the world, with teams of participants who will knit every day throughout the year in order to produce a fabric reproducing the plan of the city. LOCAL AND GLOBAL CULTURE. The challenge is that of relating local to global culture. Poets from the ten countries of EU enlargement will read their work, while local and European artists will be involved in the project “Cork Caucus” and invited to live and work together for a short period in Cork. The most fascinating events include “Relocation”, a European theatrical collaboration involving four companies, one from Cork, the others from France, Scotland and Poland that will stage the theatrical productions for which they are famous. Another intriguing event is “Through the Looking Glass”, an exhibition inspired by “Alice in Wonderland” in which European and American artists will present images of childhood. The complete programme of events can be consulted on the website www.cork2005.ie