'It's going to have a major facelift': Peter Aiken shares first details on new Marquee venue

THE popular Live at the Marquee is set to return to Cork in 2024, and has found a new home not far from what has been the Marquee site since 2007.

The tented venue will be erected at the old Tedcastle Oil site, on Centre Park Rd, for 19 nights of entertainment next summer.

The festival — which will mark its 19th year in Cork — will see Irish artists such as The Coronas, Mick Flannery, Christy Moore, Gavin James, and Damien Dempsey take to the Marquee stage once again.

The Marquee kicked off in 2005 with two years of shows at the Cork Showgrounds, in Curraheen, before it was brought to Centre Park Rd in 2007.

Promoter Peter Aiken confirmed the long-running festival will continue next year “just across the road”, adding that it will be “a lot better”.

Mr Aiken thanked Cork City Council for co-operating with him to secure the new site, as construction work for a new residential development — on the event’s traditional site near Monahan Rd — meant a move was necessary.

Speaking at a press conference at the Montenotte Hotel on Thursday, Mr Aiken said he must have looked at about 20 different sites before finally getting the deal done on the chosen site, which he said was secured and completed on Tuesday.

He said that while there were other sites available, this site was “more effective”, is close to where the festival has traditionally been held, and will have car parking facilities.

Mr Aiken said minor works will need to be done on the site, which he said will take a month or two to complete ahead of next year’s line-up of gigs.

“There is a little bit of work to be done, but it is work that will last over three years,” he said. “This will be amortised over three years.”

He said there will also be more concessions and some “really special bars” at next year’s site, because there is enough space to do so.

“It’s always looked well, but now when you walk in it’s going to be evident,” he said. “It’s going to look a lot better. It’s going to have a major facelift.”

Speaking about the line-up of Irish artists announced, he said that Irish music “has never been as strong”.

But he added that people can expect further artist announcements next year.

“It seems a little bit rushed, and it is a little bit rushed,” he said. “I only got it finalised recently, but we have another eight artists to go. For different reasons, we can’t announce it now.”

He also confirmed that ticket prices will remain the same as last year.

“Artists want to make money, but also artists want to make tickets as affordable as they can,” he said.

“There will be no increase in ticket prices from last year. None.”

The other events announced are Bingo Loco XXL, Jenny Greene & The RTÉ Concert Orchestra, The Biggest Disco, and blk.