Garbhan Downey City of Culture 2013

The writer and broadcaster Garbhan Downey has been appointed Director of Communications and Marketing for Culture Company 2013, the organisation tasked with delivering Derry~Londonderry’s City of Culture year. He will take up the position in mid-June.

Mr Downey is a former BBC news producer and editor of the Derry News. A seasoned commentator on the arts, he edited Verbal: the Northern Ireland Literary Review and is a columnist with Culture Northern Ireland. He has also published six novels and is co-author of two anthologies: City of Music –Derry’s Music Heritage; and Creggan–More than a History.

Mr Downey said he was very much looking forward to the challenge of his new role: “2013 gives us a unique opportunity to showcase the huge cultural wealth of our city on a national and international stage. I am delighted to be playing my part in it.”

Culture Company chief executive Shona McCarthy welcomed the addition of Mr Downey to the management team: “Garbhan has spent his career working as both a media professional and artist in the city, and will bring valuable experience in both disciplines to the City of Culture project.

“We have a real chance to establish Derry~Londonderry – which is already world-renowned as a city of saints, scholars and peace-makers – as an international centre of artistic excellence. And it is a legacy we hope will endure for generations to come.”