Cork business leaders bag Persons of the Month award

Two Douglas Street business leaders have been announced as the Cork Persons of the Month for August.

Justine Looney, co-owner of Cork Flower Studio, and Edel Curtin, proprietor of Coughlan’s Bar, have been named as joint Cork Persons of the Month in recognition of their work both as business leaders and community activists in the Douglas Street area.

Ms Looney is an active member of Douglas Street Business Association, helping to organise events from day-to-day street cleans to the street’s annual festival.

She has also played a key role in Douglas Street by receiving a Pride of Place, Best Urban Neighbourhood Award in 2018.

In her work at Cork Flower Studio, she has driven the move towards a more sustainable floristry industry in Ireland by replacing plastic packaging with sustainable and reusable options.

As a ‘parklet partner’ at Cork Flower Studio, Ms Looney also introduced a 2GoCup-only policy at the establishment’s garden cafe, where customers pay a deposit for a reusable cup.

Ms Curtin, meanwhile, is a two-time Irish Music Venue of the Year winner, and also serves as managing director of Coughlan’s Live Promotions.

Through her work at Coughlan’s Bar, she has transformed the near 200-year old institution from a quiet local venue to a celebrated destination for live music enthusiasts across Cork and beyond.

She also takes an active role in business and community matters in the area, having set up the original Douglas Street WhatsApp group, facilitating communication between the street’s stakeholders.

Gerry Kelly of the Cork Pops Orchestra, a local resident of the Douglas Street area, said that Douglas Street is “really thriving, due in no small part to the work of business leaders such as Justine and Edel”.

“This is seen in events such as last month’s successful South Parish Photographic Exhibition, which was organised in part by Vincent Kelly, and next month’s Douglas Street Autumn Festival, which begins on September 7,” said Mr Kelly.

“There’s a lot happening on the street, and it’s a real joy to see this much-loved area go from strength to strength in recent times.”

Ms Looney and Ms Curtin’s names will now go forward alongside other Cork Persons of the Month for 2025 for possible selection as Cork Persons of the Year at the Annual Gala Awards Lunch in January.