Gabriel Byrne Lends Support To Derry Bid To Become 'UK City Of Culture'

As Derry's bid to be named the first ever UK City of Culture in 2013 increases momentum, who better to have on your side than Ireland's new Cultural Ambassador to the United States, Gabriel Byrne?

Golden Globe winning actor Byrne was appointed to his role by Taoiseach Brian Cowen T.D., on St Patrick's Day.

The star of acclaimed films such as 'The Usual Suspects' and 'Miller's Crossing' is currently receiving critical plaudits for his role as Dr. Paul Weston in the HBO drama 'In Treatment' and has taken time out from his busy schedule to endorse the Derry campaign.

"I would like to express my support for Derry's bid to become UK City of Culture 2013. The accolade is richly deserved by a city which has made such a strong contribution to the arts and produced so many writers and performers," he said.

As a Patron of the city's Playhouse Theatre, the Dubliner is well versed in the cultural scene in Derry. Byrne's new role will see him showcase Irish creative imagination, showcasing world-class Irish artists and companies and reinvesting in Ireland's unique cultural relationship with America.

So it's quite the fillip for the Derry campaign that Ireland's Cultural Ambassador says he can think of nowhere that would be more deserving of the accolade of UK City of Culture 2013.

"Derry has emerged from the shadows of the recent past and is undergoing something of a renaissance and, for a city of its size, it has an extraordinary array of arts and facilities.

"As a Patron of the city's Playhouse Theatre I am inspired by its state-of-the-art facilities, its cross-community arts programmes, and its outreach work which brings art into the lives of the most marginalised people.

"This, together with the work of the Nerve Centre, Verbal Arts Centre, Waterside Theatre, Millennium Forum, the Void and Context Galleries amounts to the greatest critical mass of cultural provision to be found in any city across the island of Ireland.

"For too long Derry has been associated with its recent past. The City of Culture designation would allow people to go beyond the perception, experience the real Derry and appreciate it as a unique place of talent, creativity and warmth.

"I have every confidence in Derry's ability to win this accolade and can think of no city more deserving of the opportunities that UK City of Culture will present."

Derry is one of four cities shortlisted for UK City of Culture 2013, the first time this designation will be awarded. The Derry bid will be submitted on May 21 and the winning city will be announced later this summer.