'Not a great advertisement for Cork' during Jazz: Flooding needs to be dealt with, say business representatives

BUSINESS owners in the city have hailed the 45th Guinness Cork Jazz Festival as the busiest to date, but have raised concerns about flooding in parts of the city over the weekend.

While the “fun, music, buzz, and excitement” of the festival were lauded, business representatives have called for flood defences to be put in place as a matter of urgency, after more than 150,000 people flocked to Cork city, for five days of packed-out shows and street performances.

Speaking to The Echo, Michael O’Donovan of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) and owner of the Castle Inn on South Main St, said: “There are issues with the flood defences where it’s really time now that they have to step it up.

“With jazz really being a showcase weekend for Cork, we can’t afford to have what happened this weekend happening in the long term.”

President of the Cork Business Association (CBA) and co-owner of the Herlihy Centra Group Kevin Herlihy, said: “I was on the street on Saturday night and it was very sad to see the flooding on Oliver Plunkett St for the businesses, the bars, and the restaurants.”

This year’s festival saw 53,000 visitors travel through Cork Airport and a further 100,000 people flock to the city centre.

The rain and subsequent flooding in places, however, led to some disruption for some businesses in the city centre as flooding was experienced across the city yesterday evening for the third night in a row.

Streets affected by flooding in the city on Monday evening included South Terrace, Sawmill Street, Rutland Street, White Street, South Mall, Union Quay, Morrisons’ Island, Wandesford Quay, Lavitt’s Quay, Crosses’ Green, and Western Road.

Cork City Council’s Flood Assessment team met yesterday for the fourth day in a row to review the forecasted Super Spring Tides that resulted in tidal flooding in low-lying areas of the city again on Monday evening and diversions were put in place.

Mr O’Donovan said it was the busiest Jazz Festival yet and said that the festival kick-off on Thursday was “a big kick start” into Friday, Saturday, and Sunday but that flooding was “a real concern” that affected some VFI members.

“From talking with members, [the flooding] caused a small bit of disruption with bands moving around and had a small effect on the timetable and what was rostered but it was still a fantastic weekend,” he said.

“Hopefully, a solution can be found and the Morrison’s Island Flood Defence Project can be put in place because it wasn’t a great advertisement this weekend seeing the water out on the streets on one of the busiest weekends of the year that we have.”

HUGE CONCERN

He said that festivalgoers were aware of the forecast over the weekend which he said, having seen what happened in East Cork recently, was “a huge concern”.

Speaking about the number of people who visited Cork over the weekend, Mr Herlihy said he met people from the Netherlands, Germany, France, and the US, and described the festival as one of the biggest in Europe and one that is “essential to the economy in Cork”.

He described the Jazz Festival as “a great weekend for Cork” but said that the weather got on top of the city and called for solutions to the problem.

“I hope that the flood defence scheme starts as soon as possible. Hopefully, in 2024 they’ll start it. It’s long overdue and unfortunately, all the objections have held it up and this is very sad to see,” he said.

“I have my own business there on Oliver Plunkett Street and [the flooding] killed us there on Saturday evening as well.

“So, fingers crossed, it’ll be onwards and upwards and they’ll get this sorted and that it will alleviate the issues.”

Owner of Koto restaurant on Carey’s Lane Jeff Safar Hamidi said that thankfully there was no flooding in that area of the city and welcomed what he described as their best Jazz yet.

“The atmosphere in our streets was spectacular. The fun, the music, the buzz, and the excitement were palpable from early until late every day,” he said.

“The crowds were out, and it was great to see it. The weekend was good practice for Christmas which is just around the corner.”

Philip Gillivan of The Shelbourne Bar, one of the main pubs on the Jazz Music Trail, said that this year’s festival “surpassed all others”.

“The crowds were up, the spend was up, and there was an amazing atmosphere in The Shelbourne and the Victorian Quarter for the weekend,” he said.

Festival director Mark Murphy said: “We were delighted to build on the success of last year with an extra date added and 40% more shows across the city over the weekend.

“Most of the events sold out and the feedback has been incredible.”

Chair of the Cork Jazz Festival committee Fiona Collins said it was “incredible” to see so many people in the city, and in Douglas and Kinsale, over the weekend.

“Thanks to all the musicians who flew in from all over Ireland and abroad, to Guinness and to all the businesses involved, for making it such a great success,” she said.