The Chief Executive of the company set up to run the Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture project has called for a combined effort to ensure its success but said the project was "firmly on track".
Hannah Kiely's statement follows a special meeting of Galway City Council yesterday at which the manner in which the project is progressing was discussed.
Over the course of the four-hour meeting, several councillors expressed concern about planning, finance and the appointment of key personnel.
Others took a different view and were critical of what they termed a "whispering campaign" against the project.
The meeting ended with the local authority passing a motion of confidence in the Board of Galway 2020 and its executive.
But former mayor Padraig Conneely said he did not have confidence in the chief executive or the chairperson of the board, Aideen McGinley, to deliver the ambitious programme of events.
Responding to remarks that event planners had hit some bumps along the way, the Fine Gael councillor said there were "craters in the road", which were not going away.
He was backed by two other members when the confidence motion was put to a roll call vote.
Galway was named as the successful candidate city to host the prestigious year long celebration of culture in July 2016. The event will cost in the region of €46m, with Galway City Council providing a total of €6m.
Finance is also being provided by Galway County Council and applications for EU funding of more than €3m have already been made.
Two years after the city secured the designation, Galway 2020 has accepted that there have been shortcomings in the way it has communicated progress to date.
A creative director was appointed to the project in mid-2017 but left the position in recent weeks.
Ms Kiely said she she could not discuss the reasons behind the departure of Chris Baldwin but the council meeting was told he left amicably.
The appointment of a business engagement director, to generate funding in the region of €7m, has also been delayed.
It is understood an offer of employment was made to one applicant and subsequently revoked.
This morning, Ms Kiely said she was encouraged by the backing of city councillors and claimed the Galway 2020 project was "firmly on track".
She said the programme had moved from the planning to implementation stage and further announcements would be made in the coming months.
Ms Kiely said it was important that all involved worked together to ensure the initiative had the support and financial resources to succeed.
