Cork 2005: The hiss of dust being shaken from departing heels seems to be louder now with the absence on medical leave of director John Kennedy from Cork 2005.
His interim replacement at the helm of the organisation by City Hall's Joe Kennelly brings Cork's three remaining months as European cultural capital under the control of the local authority. It also emphasises the apparent disintegration of the organisation itself, given that deputy director Mary McCarthy, who would have seemed the most likely replacement for Kennedy, advised the company's board that she was unavailable for that role.
Kennedy was taken ill in his office last week, and while McCarthy says he is expected back at his desk by the end of this month, there is no certainty of this - nor, in Cork, is it even considered likely. McCarthy is now on holiday and will take up her new position as arts officer with the Dublin Docklands Development Authority in November, while remaining as part-time deputy director of Cork 2005. Her colleague, director of community-based projects Tony Sheehan, is already working on a part-time basis for the company, following his appointment as special adviser to the Minister of Arts, John O'Donoghue.
An engineer and the city council's director of services for recreation, amenity and culture, Joe Kennelly is already an active member of the company board. Communications director Aoife Carlin, appointed following the departure earlier this year of Shane Malone, is on leave, and media inquiries have been referred to Tim Healy, City Hall finance director and Cork 2005 company secretary.
Fifty years of film glamour
Opening on October 9th with a nostalgic "Night of History", the Cork Film Festival is in its 50th year, a record of survival which must amaze anyone who remembers the inaugural scepticism. It began as a one-man show, in that the late Dermot Breen had few public supporters. After a glamour-fest the first year, the only way was down, and the following year was distinguished by controversy: Dawn Adams demanded a bath in 20 gallons of best Jersey milk at the Imperial Hotel, which refused her request.
There were other controversies, all adding to the invigorating, even dangerous, atmosphere surrounding the festival, and doing Cork all manner of good. Gradually, affected by constraints of money and popular opinion, the festival changed, more than once, without ever losing its ability to please most of the people most of the time; uniquely among Cork's several festivals, it has always attracted the intelligent young along with the cinematically diligent older.
This year, Sony's PSPTM is supporting a showcase of eight of the best international short films. Although without a title sponsor, the focus on Irish film-makers has not interrupted awareness of other developments. Many of these will be dissected at the Short Film Symposium, sponsored by Cork 2005, at the Clarion Hotel from October 6th to 8th (021-4271711 or www.corkfilmfest.org).
