Fake news or April Fools': Cork pranksters provide a laugh during April Fools’ Day

IN AN age when it is becoming increasingly difficult to decipher what is real and what is fake news, April Fools’ Day is like a gift from the gods for pranksters out to give everyone a bit of a giggle.

Today was no exception, as Cork awoke to news items ranging from the sublime to the downright ridiculous.

Perhaps the jape of the day came from Cork Airport, who issued a statement announcing it is to be renamed “Cillian Murphy International Airport”.

Not only would the airport be named in honour of the Oscar winning Ballintemple actor, the rebrand would also include renaming its entrance road to “Hollywood Boulevard” — changing the name of its watering hole to “Disco Pigs Bar and Restaurant” and creating the “Red Eye Executive Lounge”.

Meanwhile, two Cork publicans took the theme of the day “a bridge too far”, after announcing an “ambitious” proposal to link the South County Bar & Café and O’Sullivan’s gastropub in Douglas with an above-street level toll bridge.

According to the owner/manager of the South County, Tom O’Connor, it was being done “with the convenience and safety of their customers in mind”.

The publicans cited occasional incidents where customers had found it quicker to hail a taxi and pay the fare from one pub to the other, rather than “take the arduous 15m trek across the busy street”.

The proprietor of O’Sullivan’s, Donal O’Sullivan, said that while they were open to sponsorship, “we hope that the project will be mostly funded by rate-payers in the southside”.

“We will also consult with the city engineers on a possible underground subway as an alternative, but either way we would like to see commencement of the project within the year,” he said.

Cork Safety Alerts had some people “hopping mad”, with a post on their social media page declaring that Cork City Council is to introduce “Pogo Only Lanes” across the city.

It remained unclear if the move, touted as “an innovative approach to combat congestion and carbon emissions within the city centre”, would have a tie in with the Leap card.

Elsewhere, in a move that may come as a surprise to many — including quite possibly a German soon-to-be former Liverpool FC manager — a certain Jurgen Klopp is to make a shock move to Leeside.

It emerged the Premiership winning manager was set to join the Blackrock GAA junior B backroom team.

While details of his contract remain a closely guarded secret, it is understood the temptation of a three-year deal worth a free chicken fillet rolls and a pint of milk per week from the local SuperValu was enough to turn Mr Klopp’s head.

Not to be outdone, Cork City FC joined in the fun — posting to social media about a proposal to relocate the singing section from “The Shed” to the St Anne’s End of their Turners Cross stadium.

“We believe the St Anne’s End provides the ideal location for making noise levels as loud as possible on match night,” the post read. What noise the Rebel Army might make to that suggestion can only be imagined.