Thousands of fans jet into Cork for fun, food, and jazz

The 46th annual Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is in full swing, with more than 100,000 revellers expected to descend on Leeside from all points of the compass to savour the sights and sounds of the globally renowned event.

As the “gateway to the festival”, Cork Airport will see more than 55,000 people pass through the arrivals hall to the welcoming sound of live jazz music across the weekend.

Fantastic

With the airport anticipating a 4% increase in traffic, compared to the October bank holiday last year, yesterday saw people arrive in Cork in their droves — among them jazz fan Laurence Bond, from East Sussex, who has been coming to the festival for eight years.

“I just love it, everything is so good — the music is fantastic, the venues are all fantastic and, of course, the people are fantastic,” he told The Echo.

“I’m looking forward to the weekend and, if the rain stops, it’ll be absolutely perfect.”

Ken Sheraton and his wife Jayne, from Cambridgeshire in England, said: “It’s our first jazz weekend in Cork.

“I love jazz. I used to be a member of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, so we’re really looking forward to it.”

Ciara O’Dowling, originally from Courtmacsherry, said she couldn’t miss this weekends’ festivities as “it’s even better than Christmas”.

She added: “I’ve gone to every single jazz festival since I was about 18, and I’ve come home for it the last five [years] from London.

“The day time in Cork city is the best, just walking around the streets and seeing the bands all hanging around.

“My friend is singing in a band in Barry’s in Douglas, so I’m looking forward to seeing her.”

Very excited

Mother-daughter duo Anita and Isabella Brook, from Oxfordshire in England , said they were “very excited” ahead of their their first Cork Jazz Festival experience.

“I’d heard from quite a few people who have been here that it’s brilliant, and what an amazing welcome to have as we arrive with the jazz music playing,” said Anita.

“Tomorrow night, we’re going to see the Beuna Vista All Stars.

“Then the rest of the time we’re going to wander around and see what we can see — we’re big fans of jazz.”

Glasgow native Sheila Hind said: “I’m really excited.

“I’ve heard so much about it and I can’t wait to go and see everything.

“I love live music and any event like this, for me, is fantastic.”