Cork businesses set for major boost as crowds descend on city for Jazz Festival

CORK Airport is preparing to welcome more than 53,000 passengers over the October bank holiday weekend, with crowds arriving for what is expected to be a bumper Guinness Cork Jazz Festival.

The airport, which is an official festival partner again this year, said thousands of people will arrive from Britain and mainland Europe in advance of one of the biggest weekends on the Cork cultural calendar.

Friday is anticipated to be the busiest day for the airport, and total passenger traffic this bank holiday weekend will see a 23% increase on the same period last year.

Cork Airport managing director Niall MacCarthy said that passengers coming into Cork should expect “plenty of music and fun this weekend, and even more in the run-up to Christmas”.

Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy said that the number of passengers expected to arrive at Cork Airport over the weekend is a marker of the enduring popularity of the festival.

“It contributes millions of euros to the local economy and benefits Cork pubs, venues, hotels, and restaurants in the [off-peak] season,” said Mr Healy.

“The annual Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is a major boost to the entire Cork region every year.

SHOWCASE

“It is also a showcase of what is on offer in Cork, and with 53,000 passengers being welcomed into Cork Airport for the jazz weekend, it is a testament to the continued success and growth of the festival.”

Arriving passengers will get a flavour of the festival as soon as they land at Cork Airport, with performances from The Jazz Bandits, Lamarotte Jazzband, and Blarney Brass and Reed Band all set to take place in the terminal over the course of the weekend.

Celebrating its 45th year, the world-renowned Guinness Cork Jazz Festival will feature more ticketed shows than ever before, with an extra date added.

It will run from Thursday to Monday and will see an extended music trail through the city, a stellar line-up of Irish and international musicians and emerging talent, pop-up events, late-night parties, and more.

The festival, one of the longest-running events in the local music scene, was first established in 1978 by Jim Mountjoy, the then marketing manager of the Metropole Hotel on MacCurtain St.

Speaking ahead of this year’s festival, Metropole Hotel general manager Roger Russell said the Metropole is “proud of the history and the association” it has with the festival.

“The impact that it’s had on the city has been phenomenal,” he told The Echo.

“It’s put Cork on the map internationally.

“It’s a great driver of business and tourism for the city, not just the local market, but national and even international people coming in.”

Mr Russell remarked that the festival has become “part of the DNA of Cork” and that there will be a stellar line-up of acts performing in the hotel this year, including Judi Jackson, Lamarotte Jazzband, New York Brass Band, and “stalwarts” of the local jazz scene such as the likes of Gary Baus, Paul Dunlea, Harry Connolly, and Mo O’Connor.

“It’s going to be a great weekend, we’re really excited,” said Mr Russell.

Other main stage venues for the 2023 festival include The Everyman, Cork Opera House, Cyprus Avenue, Triskel Arts Centre, Live At St Luke’s, St Peter’s Church, and Cork City Hall, with headline acts including Corinne Bailey Rae, Macy Gray, Morcheeba, Matthew Halsall, Kurt Elling, and more.

The Big Fringe, organised by the local Cork Jazz Festival Committee, offers a free program that will feature impromptu soulful moments of jazz, big brass bands, and spontaneous performances by some of Ireland and Europe’s finest jazz talent.

Cork Jazz Festival Committee chairwoman Fiona Collins said the Big Fringe “is always a festival highlight for many” and added that the committee is “delighted to work in partnership with Diageo Ireland, Cork Airport, Fáilte Ireland, Ireland’s Ancient East, Cork City Council, Cork Chamber of Commerce, Pure Cork, and Choice Cuts, together with businesses all over the city to bring jazz back to the streets of Cork”.

PUBS

Meanwhile, Cork chairman of Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and owner The Castle Inn on South Main St, Michael O’Donovan, said publicans are gearing up for what is expected to be a very busy weekend of trade.

“Every year we apply for area exemptions for all the pubs in the borough of Cork city, so this weekend again pubs will have the capability of staying open until 2.30am if they so wish,” he said.

“Not all will use the exemption, but it’s in place if they wish to use it.

“Last year was a huge weekend, and we would hope that this year will equal or hopefully even surpass last year’s festival.”

• For more on the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival 2023, or to book tickets, visitguinnesscorkjazz.com .