Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tipperary has a cultural and creativity team, along with a Creative Ireland co-ordinator, all of whom would welcome input into the development of their plan. For pillar 2 of the Creative Ireland programme for creative communities, my Department allocated €2 million while the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government gave €1 million. That means €96,000 has been allocated to each local authority. My Department and the Creative Ireland programme do not prescribe what creativity is and what activities can be supported, however. Autonomy is granted to the local authorities, community groups or schools partaking in any Creative Ireland project or initiative.

There is an array of creative activities, including traditional heritage-based activities and events, which are being supported by the Creative Ireland programme. Cruinniú na nÓg, the national day of creativity for children and young people, for example, will take place this Saturday. In 2018, there was the Ode on a Castle and a Tower event. There was also the Vox Materia exhibition of sculpture and prints by the renowned artist, Alice Maher, which was curated by the Pluck Projects and commissioned by Brendan Maher of the Source Arts Centre in Thurles. This exhibition was inspired by a visit to Kilcooley Abbey and the 12th century carving of a mermaid there.

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