Luas bridge would end tall ships and maritime festivals in Cork city, says Cruise Europe boss

The former Port of Cork commercial manager has said Cork can say goodbye to any more city centre maritime festivals if the planned Luas bridge goes ahead.

The city will never again see a naval vessel, cruise liner or tall ship docks on its quaysides, the Cruise Europe ambassador Michael McCarthy told The Echo, adding that it will make the city’s motto ‘A Safe Harbour for Ships’ redundant.

The Cork-based ambassador of the largest cruise port network in northern Europe added that, if a fixed bridge connecting Kent Station to Kennedy Quay is built, no vessels at all will be able to access the quays west of the old Odlums building.

“The bridge will come across from Kent Station and reach Kennedy Quay by the old Odlums building, and nothing will get past that bridge, no yachts, motorboats, ribs, rowing boats, nothing,” he said.

“You’ll never again see a tall ship, a cruise ship, any type of ship, you’ll never again get any substantial size ship into the city ever again.” 

He said the city will never again be able to have maritime festivals, because the bridge will be at the same level as the other city bridges.

“Our city motto is Statio Bene Fida Carinis, ‘A Safe Harbour for Ships’, but we will never be able to claim that again if this bridge goes ahead, and the shame of it is that there are better options available,” said Mr McCarthy.

He suggested that an alternative Luas route would see the light rail instead crossing the river at the Michael Collins Bridge and the Éamon de Valera Bridge “or an extension beside them” and linking Kent Station with the bus station.

Separately, two sports clubs on the western side of the planned route have each renewed their calls for submissions to the public consultation before today’s deadline.

Bishopstown GAA Club and Highfield RFC have both said they are in favour of Luas Cork but have vowed to oppose the preferred route cutting through their respective sporting grounds.

Highfield said it was facing an “existential threat”, while Bishopstown GAA said it would fight the preferred route “to the very end”.

The deadline for submissions to luascork.ie is 5.30pm, today, Friday, June 12