Dublin is a small city by most standards, especially by comparison with other European world capitals. It is in a magnificent natural setting, resting on a broad sweep of the bay between the sea and the mountains. Dublin straddles both banks of the River Liffey and spreads out to the suburban areas, north, south and west. However, Dublin's size is no way reflective of the amount of talent, arts and culture to be found in the everyday life of the city. This year of 1991 has been set aside for a special purpose, to get the best out of ourselves and our city.
There are many definitions of culture and as many expressions — the arts, theatre, literature — but the greatest wealth in any culture lies in the richness of its people. Dublin abounds in a cocktail of wonderful people right across the social spectrum in every community in the city. Dublin city is over 1,000 years old and the present day "Dub" is a product of various influences over the years. Each has contributed to the life and culture we have inherited, from the Vikings, the British and the Normans and, indeed, our own country cousins who have all worked and settled in Dublin over the years, each bringing a special ingredient of culture and background, adding colour to the city. Each individual can be part of the life and vitality that is Dublin today.
Much has already been said about the various projects which are either completed or are underway. Indeed, much has been accomplished by the urban renewal programme, for example, the Temple Bar project, the pedestrianisation of Grafton Street and Henry Street, the provision of the bronze sculptures for our city and the county areas. These are all very laudable. However, people are the lifeblood of any city. It is on this community aspect of our city of culture that I would like to concentrate this evening.
Dublin communities cover the whole city and county area. With this in mind the Dublin Promotions Organisation Limited, DPOL, who are organising the events and promotions for 1991, have set up a special community project subcommittee. From the outset, DPOL have placed a special emphasis on the importance of allowing ordinary Dubliners around the city and county to participate in the programme for Dublin 1991. This project committee were set up to deal exclusively with community projects and events.
The committee were given a budget of £150,000 to aid in funding community works, and a scheme to enable community groups from around the city and county to apply for grant aid was devised. The basis of the scheme is straightforward in its criteria. Projects can be funded up to 50 per cent of their total cost to a maximum of £5,000. Groups are asked to raise the other 50 per cent of the cost of the project themselves so that the project is substantially their own work and to make the community project's budget go further.
This has a two-fold benefit. The range of the scheme is maximised and the community is enriched a little more through co-operation and self-help. A similar scheme was operated in Glasgow in 1990 and was called "The Do It Yourself Scheme". There have been 127 applications for aid under this scheme to date and they cover a wide range of events around the city and county. Among these already on the agenda are the CLEAR festival of working class culture in Kilbarrack, which will take place in June, Tallaght Arts Festival, which will run in July. Glor na Gael have organised a summer programme and sculpture gardens in Ballymun, beginning on 5 May. Women's groups are sponsoring multimedia visual arts projects and, not to be outdone, the Dublin travellers education and development group programme have been involved in contributing to Dublin 1991 by reconstructing a barrel top caravan using skills that are almost extinct. Libraries, schools, drama groups and local communities are all playing their part in revitalising the spirit of the city.
Sponsorship from the corporate sector has brought together the city's communities in organising various larger events. The AIB Group are sponsoring two concerts by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. This will take place in the National Concert Hall in September. The orchestra is acknowledged as one of the finest in eastern Europe. Irish Distillers are sponsoring a competition for European Community architects under their Powers Gold Label brand name. This competition will focus on the famous Smithfield market area and examine the use of the open space there.
The ESB are sponsors of the Upstairs Downstairs exhibition which depicts the elegant lifestyle of Georgian Dublin. There are many more. Guinness Ireland Limited, Irish Life, Bank of Ireland, Telecom Eireann and the National Lottery have all greatly contributed to Dublin 1991 and helped strengthen the links between the corporate and financial world and the ordinary citizen of the city.
Dublin has no need to portray an image in the modern sense of the world. Dublin and its people have a strong sense of identity. The wit of the inner city "Dub" is renowned for its sharp, cynical yet humourous outlook on life. Dublin pubs' culture is legendary, enhanced by the popular portrayal of drinking Dubs discussing and solving the problems of the universe over a setting pint of Guinness. The popularity of such pubs as O'Donoghues, Doheny and Nesbitts and Mulligans of Townsend Street far exceed the more recent arrivals on the social scene. They have been legendary for their clients and their crack.
All of this is Dublin, not just the greatness of James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Behan and Christy Browne, but of contemporary writers like Roddy Doyle, who is famous for his comedy plays. The renowned Brown Bread capsulates the very spirit, humour and wit of everyday Dublin. Comedians like Noel Purcell, Cecil Sheridan and Brendan Grace have made it their trademark and brought it into every home. This humour and witty outlook on life is found in concentrated quantities in the inner city.
On the subject of urban renewal, residents and visitors alike only have to look around them to see the vast improvements the city has undergone in the last few years, the wonderful restoration of Dublin Castle along with the Custom House and other magnificent buildings. Derelict sites are being cleared to make way for new developments. The new financial incentives to aid in the development of the Temple Bar area should further assist in the rejuvenation of the whole area.
Inner city housing has taken on a new lease of life. Many of the corporation housing estates in the flats complex in the inner city and some of the housing estates in Darndale and Ballymun and my own local authority area in Ballyfermot are being refurbished and improved in standard. The Oriel Street development for senior citizens has ensured that small individual units will be provided, specially tailored for the specific needs of the elderly.
New apartment accommodation is being built in the city centre close to the new financial services centre and other developments are underway to provide for further housing in the various parts of the city. A living city is one of an even balance of commercial enterprise providing employment and with a section of its people living in it. Through the urban renewal scheme we hope to achieve such a marriage.
Dublin's tradition with music goes back a long way. Handel saw fit to have his first public performance of "The Messiah" performed in Dublin. No less, the musicians of today, both traditional and popular, have found inspiration and expression in our city. Like Handel, musicians such as U2, the Dubliners, Wolfe Tones, Sinead O'Connor and Emotional Fish and Aslan have had their roots in Dublin and found acclaim.
In this year of culture encouragement and help should be given to our young people. Our youth are full of life and talent and should be urged by their peers to express their qualities in healthy, constructive ways, such as music and sport. Music knows no social boundaries. Its appeal is broadly based and crosses all sectors of the social spectrum.
Talent also demands no criteria. From the rich to the poor, the educated to the deprived a city has a deep well of talent and ability. We in Dublin should use this opportunity as the European City of Culture as a platform for our young musicians and a medium for bringing their talent to a greater audience. One has only to walk down Grafton Street any day to see the range of talented young people busking there. Apart from contributing to the Bohemian atmosphere of the shopping area and the tourist appeal of the city, some have found their path to fame.
The now well known Dublin based band, the Hothouse Flowers, found their first loyal followers while busking in Grafton Street and went on to become chart toppers in Ireland, the UK and Europe. Dublin has now become synonymous with exciting young musical talent and record companies' talent spotters are frequent visitors to our city to look for new faces. This is not solely confined to a contemporary or popular music. The GPA international piano competition has contributed greatly to the culture of the city, attracting the best aspiring young pianists in the world. The Heineken sponsorship of the violin students and the Lombard and Ulster music foundation are both examples of the role corporate sponsorship has played and the faith that the business sector has in the youth.
The influence of the Irish language may not be as great in Dublin as it is in other areas of the country but where it is it is found in abundance. Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann in Monkstown have a thriving cultural centre both for tourists and for members of the community. The high standard of performance and the immense popularity will ensure the continuation of their contribution to the culture of our city. Music as a common denominator transcends language and other social barriers and it can be enjoyed by everybody from performer to audience. As a medium of communication music can be highlighted during Dublin 1991, as a bridge towards greater community awareness both within individual areas and between co-operating participants.
Dublin in 1991 is a wonderful place to visit, it is a wonderful place to live in. This year it belongs to the people, the people of Dublin, a year to enjoy, to participate in and to contribute, a year for all our communities to respond with their own flair and vitality as they did so well during our Millennium year. Dublin 1991 as European City of Culture, has been an honour and a challenge.