10-year failure to build Cork Events Centre a 'national embarrassment', TD says

Olivia Kelleher

The Social Democrats have described as a “national embarrassment” the failure to deliver on the promise of a €150 million Cork Events Centre 10 years after the sod was first turned on the project

On February 12th, 2016, then Taoiseach Enda Kenny turned the sod on the project at the site of the former Beamish and Crawford brewery on South Main Street in Cork city,

Initially the 6,000 capacity venue for concerts and conferences was expected to be completed by 2018 and had a budget of €50 million.

However, the project has faced numerous challenges in the intervening years. Projected costs are now in the region of €150 million. €100 million will have to be funded by the State.

Cork Social Democrats TD Padraig Rice has described the undeveloped site as an “eyesore.’

"A decade on and all the people of Cork have been left with is a large derelict site in the city centre - it is an eyesore.

"Time and again we have seen a lack of commitment to delivering on major capital projects for Cork."

Deputy Rice said that “outrageously” €2.2 million has been spent on the process so far.

“This must surely now be one of the most expensive vacant sites in the city.”

Meanwhile, BAM won the original tender for the project with the old Beamish & Crawford site being chosen for its proximity to bars and restaurants.

Two years ago, the then Cabinet ruled that, because so many changes had been made to the project since 2016, it would have to be offered for a new tender to satisfy EU procurement rules. The new tendering process is due to get underway this year.

Business and tourism interests in Cork have said that the project has a “transformative potential” for the city.

The Cork Business Association, the Cork branch of the Irish Hotels Federation, Cork Chamber of Commerce, the Vintners Federation in Cork, and the Restaurant Association of Ireland previoulsy issued a statement in which they described the events centre as a vital development for the city

"The Cork Events Centre will not only sustain and create thousands of jobs, but it will also stimulate significant economic activity, attract investment, and draw visitors to our city region, leading to the regeneration of Ireland’s second city.

"A piece of cultural infrastructure of this scale, with a capacity of 6,000 seats, and which can attract an annual attendance of around 500,000 people will be game-changing, not just for Cork, but for Ireland.

"We estimate that 800 jobs in the hospitality sector alone will be created and sustained. It will also allow other businesses to expand and new ones to open. The city will be transformed."

"Major private sector investment is being put forward by a world leading live entertainment company, Live Nation.

"The return on investment to the national exchequer would be rapid and significant."