Month: September 2018

Join us for the final Feel Good Friday of 2018!

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Here We Go! 

Feel Good Friday is back with it's final edition for 2018 and the businesses in Cork have yet again stepped up their game!

If you like to sip a rich Americano as you browse the rails for bargains, you can enjoy your favourite treat completely free of charge this Feel Good Friday on Opera Lane.

 

To celebrate Feel Good Friday, a city-wide initiative designed to encourage shoppers to kick off their weekend in town, Opera Lane has teamed up with the lovely folk at Starbucks to give every shopper a caffeine kick on Friday, September 28th.

 

Not only will you receive a free java to perk you up for an evening’s shopping, it’ll even be served in a stylish Opera Lane keep cup that you can use again and again.

 

Simply stroll down Opera Lane and collect your special Opera Lane keep cup between 3pm and 7pm on Friday, September 28th, then head into Starbucks and choose a cappuccino, latte, filter, Americano, flat white coffee or any tea completely free of charge!

The cups are reusable and Starbucks offer the best discount on return of the cup, with 35 cent off your refill each and every time you use it.

 

It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

But wait....... There's more!

 

 

‘Sample Our Street’ is back in the Victorian Quarter this Friday from 5.30pm.

 

Traders in the Victorian Quarter of Cork City will once again step outside their premises from 5.30pm-6.30pm this ‘Feel Good Friday’ to give you a taste of what the street has to offer. So whether you’re dashing through on the way home from work or have a few hours to spend in the Quarter you’ll be able to sample the treats and quirks of the Victorian Quarter without even having to step foot in a premises!

 

The Victorian Quarter retailers will be offering many treats this Friday, from brownies, pizza slices, tasters on platters to Leisureplex staff dressed in Qazar outfits handing out special offers.  Not forgetting the talented folks at Stokes Clock’s, hope to bring some of their collection onto the pavement for all to see the restoration process.

See below some of the exciting events and treats you can enjoy this Friday in the Victorian Quarter!

Leisureplex

Keep your eyes peeled!

Staff members – one in a bowling pin costume and one in a quasar pack and gun will be out and about in the Quarter, handing out vouchers to people in the area.

 

The Shelbourne

Bruno will be serving samples of one of the popular lunch menu sandwiches.

He'll also be serving a hot dish, a meat and mash combo!

 

Gallagher’s Gastro Pub

Double Chocolate Brownies with chocolate ganache. Need I say anymore?

 

Novecento Pizzeria

What says Friday more than Pizza!

Novecento will bring their delicious pizza slices onto the street for all to sample

 

Stokes Clocks

The talented folks at Stokes Clock’s, hope to bring some of their collection onto the pavement for all to see the restoration process

 

Cask

A treat is instore under the Archway on Friday 5:30 ish!

 

The Metropole Hotel Cork

Visited the all new ‘Met bar’ at The Metropole Hotel yet?

Samples from the new Met snack menu, tasters on platters and some cocktail tasters will be on offer this Friday.

 

The Everyman Theatre

The Everyman Theatre are running an irresistible special offer! Kicking of Sample Our Street, come along at lunchtime and pick up a flyer from a mysterious character!

This flyer features a special code *** BUY 1 TICKET & GET 1 FREE ***  to use at the time of booking, for the upcoming  "The Nightingale & The Rose’’ – The World Opera Premiere inspired by Oscar Wilde’s short story. Hurry, offer valid until Sunday midnight. Get them while they last!

 

Dan Lowreys 

Anyone like Gin? Be sure to pop by for a tipple from the kind folks at ‘Dan Lowreys’.

 

Gallagher’s Gastro Pub

Double Chocolate Brownies with chocolate ganache. Need we say more?

 

Son of a Bun

No details required, you know it’s going to be a tasty!

 

Vibes and scribes

Look out for the portable signage made by the creative folks at Vibes and Scribes.

 

Deep Red Productions

The talented team at ‘Deep Red Productions Ltd’ will be capturing the event on film and camera, so make sure to smile 😊

Keep an eye on the Facebook and Twitter pages to find out more.

 

Feel Good Friday is an initiative led by Cork Business Association, Cork Chamber and Cork City Council which sees retailers and businesses in the city centre come together to host a series of events on the last Friday of every month. The idea behind Feel Good Friday is to reintroduce shoppers in Cork to the fun of shopping in the heart of their City. The last Friday of the month also coincides with pay day for many, so people want something to do on that day – and we’re making sure Cork City centre is top of their mind!

CBA Urges Government to retain 9% VAT rate in the Hospitality & Services Sector

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The CBA fully supports the stance taken by RAI cheif executive Adrian Cummins when he outlined that, "Brexit is the hospitality industry’s most immediate threat in 2018 and that danger will follow into 2019. We must retain measures such as the 9% VAT rate to allow businesses remain competitive while we continue to measure the potential damage that Brexit could introduce to the industry."

To retain the growth that we have seen specifically in the Cork region within  the Tourism / Hospitality and Services sectors, it is essential that the VAT rate of 9% is retained until 2022. It is also important to acknowledge since the VAT cut, 54,400 jobs have been created in these sectors nationally. Consequently it is imperative that the reduced VAT rate is kept in place until 2022 in order for the Irish economy to remain competitive.

We must not eaisly forget when the economy went into decline, restaurants & service providers endured falling numbers , rising prices and great financial uncertainty, with many having to close their businesses. Money generated by this reduced VAT rate, however, has kick-started a reversal of fortunes. Since the VAT cut, employment in the Restaurant Tourism &  Services sector increased by approximately 54,400 direct jobs with an additional 25,024 indirect jobs which gives a total employment increase of 79,424. This growth will continue if VAT at 9% remains in effect."

Commenting Lawrence Owens CEO of the Cork Business Association said " Many of our members operate in the sector that will be seriously impacted by any upward change in the 9% VAT rate. We urge the Government not alone to heed the significant warnings from the sector but to factor in the uncertainty that Brexit poses to the industry. In essence we would simply say if it ain't broke don't fixit"

 

END

Cork Pink Week 2018

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As you are probably aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to celebrate it, the Cork region will, with your help go Pink, from 1st-7thOctober next, in solidarity with all those people worldwide who are affected by this terrible disease.

Cork Pink Week is a community initiative set up by a group of Cork women who have been affected by Breast Cancer. Their ambition being to bring individuals, businesses and communities together by way of realising specific goals, the first raising much needed funds for diagnostic equipment for the Cork University Hospital Breast Cancer Unit while also bringing greater awareness of the excellent cancer care services and facilities in the region.

 

As an employer, we know that you have a special interest in your employees’ health and wellbeing and that you are actively supporting them to lead healthier and more active lives, together with their families and communities as a whole. You may even have some employees and/or family members who may unfortunately have been diagnosed with cancer over the last number of years, hence my approach to you on behalf of Cork Pink Week.

 

To raise funds for Diagnostic Machinery in the Breast Care Unit of CorkUniversity Hospital.

The Symptomatic Breast Unit at Cork University Hospital provides care for men and women of the Cork/Kerry area and performed over 30,000 examinations in 2017.  In 2018 they have been fortunate to receive funding for basic replacement of the imaging equipment this will be installed later this year. To ensure they continue to work at the forefront we would be most grateful if you could support us in funding additional enhancing items of equipment which will further augment the benefits of the new equipment.
To date we are truly gratified by the number of private individuals, companies and organisations, who have committed to holding events or donating goods and services to help get this worthy initiative off the ground.

 

How YOU can help:

  • Sponsor or host your own Pink event on your premises.
  • Support planned events like the ‘Pink Lunch’ at City Hall on the 7thOctober
  • Offer your goods or services – printing costs, hiring of equipment (for catering, PA system), subsidised food and drink,
  • Insurance costs, secretarial services

 

 

We invite you to be part of the success of Cork Pink Week, raising awareness and helping to protect our employees, loved ones and communities as a whole in the prevention, early detection and treatment of CANCER.
To know more about this week and especially the celebratory Pink Lunch at Cork City Hall on the 7th October, please visit us on www.corkpinkweek.ie.

 

 

 

Sign up:
Let’s work together to make Cork Pink Week a huge contributor to cancer care services in Cork!
If you wish to sponsor an event, hold an event, attend Cork Pink Lunch, conduct a seminar/information briefing for your staff or wish to donate, please contact the following:

 

Sylvia McHenry
087 2996226
Sylv.mch@gmail.com            

 

Miriam Healy
086 8041493
miriamthealy@eircom.net

 

 

 

Email:      info@corkpinkweek.ie                                        
Website:      www.corkpinkweek.ie                                                                                                      

 

Cork Pink Week in association with the CUH charity number CHY17293. 

Engaging with our Youth – The Retail Experience in Cork City

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The Cork Business Association and Cork City Council have come together with St Angela’s College to work on an exciting new project for the present academic year. With the growth of online shopping ever increasing there is an inevitable knock on effect on our local retailers in Cork City centre. Cork Business Association and Cork City Council are aware of this potential threat to local business, and with the help of Ms Muireann Curtin of St Angela’s College, they have designed a Project Brief for the current transition year students attending St Angela’s College.

The general objective of this project is to “raise questions about the spending habits of young people in Cork City and promote the development of small local retailers”. This project is being guided by Ms Julia Campi from Sao Paulo who has worked on similar projects back in her home country of Brazil. This is a very practical live project that will greatly benefit both the transition year students and local retailers alike. The project is broken down into four stages and students will work over the course of the academic year to identify what types of products are available in Cork City, how the youth in Cork consume these products and what the overall retail experience is like for our younger generations shopping in Cork City. The students will then be given the challenge of identifying the global retailers who are continuously innovating and positively reaching the youth through various different channels and seeing how they can apply their findings on a local scale.

 

Philip Gillivan, President of the Cork Business Association, said,

“This is a fantastic new project, the first of its kind in Cork City and possibly even the whole country. I firmly believe we can learn a lot from these students and readjust our business models to reach this target market. Students of this age are very impressionable and if we don’t attempt to curb their spending habits now they will continue to shop online, to the detriment of our local small retailers.”

The CBA and Cork City Council launched this project today, Thursday 13th September, and met with over one hundred transition year students who will be taking part.

“The students are very eager and excited to take part in this new project with ideas already flying around the room. If we fail to listen to their needs and concerns now, we will lose them as they progress in life and the concept of shopping local will be alien to them. Cork City has so much to offer with an eclectic mix of products and services available on our doorstep and we look forward to working alongside these students and hearing their ideas on how we can improve their overall retail experience in Cork.”, commented Lawrence Owens, CEO of the Cork Business Association.

 

“We need to start a conversation between these transition year students, their generation, and the business community in Cork City. It’s a two way street – how the businesses can learn what the transition year students want regarding online shopping and how the students can learn the impact of buying everything solely online and how that will affect the vibrancy of the city going forward, their city. It’s a two-way conversation; the students learn the benefits of spending in the local economy and the business community learning that they need to be able to adapt and change to attract the next generation of shoppers to their shops, whether it be online or instore.”

“This is the first year this project will be rolled out with St Angela’s College however we hope to open this up to all Cork schools next year as we feel it’s a great opportunity for students to really interact and engage with the retail sector in Cork for mutual benefit.”, commented Mr Gillivan.

 

Paul McGuirk, Cork City Coordinator, said of this new live project,

“We are delighted to partner with the Cork Business Association on this exciting and innovative project which has a dual capacity to assist the transition year students at St Angela’s College in their learning process and will aid the Cork City retailers in their ability to adapt and change with the evolving consumer trends”.

Landmark Cork Buildings Turn Red For “WE ARE CORK” Launch

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Collaboration across Cork on new brand for Region promotes success in Cork

 

Many of Cork’s landmark buildings including City Hall, County Hall, Port of Cork, University College Cork, CIT’s City Centre Hub on Grand Parade, The Capitol and One Albert Quay among others, will be turning red this week to mark the launch of a new brand to promote all that is great about Cork. The “We are Cork” brand will enhance marketing of the city and county nationally and internationally as a great place to live, work, invest, study, play, visit and succeed.

 

The initiative aims to support Cork as it’s poised to become the fastest growing region in Ireland in the next 20 years.  With €510 million in commercial development underway or recently completed in Cork, the region is home to the world’s largest technology company, Apple and 7 out of 10 of the world’s top 10 pharma companies. With increased global movement of companies, and Brexit uncertainty, stakeholders in Cork have been working to promoting its economic and lifestyle merits with all the benefits of a metropolitan area as well as vast open spaces, scenery and extensive coastline. And notably Cork is poised become Europe’s second largest English speaking region!

 

As part of the initiative, which is a first in Ireland, the region’s stakeholders including Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Cork Airport, Port of Cork, University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork Chamber, Cork Business Association, Ibec, Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Failte Ireland and Visit Cork are backing the “We are Cork” brand.  As the umbrella brand for Cork, it is envisaged that “We are Cork” will come to represent and promote the region internationally, nationally and locally.   It will also be available for use by all businesses, organisations and interested parties in Cork.

 

An Tánaiste Simon Coveney TD was on hand to launch the We are Cork brand, and said,

“We Are Cork is a brilliant initiative to bring together under one banner everything that makes Cork great. The city and county is going to be the fastest growing part of the country for the next two decades and it is essential that campaigns like We Are Cork are initiated to make the most out of the business to be done.”

 

Speaking at the launch of “We are Cork”, Cork City Council Chief Executive and Chair of the “We Are Cork” Steering Committee Ann Doherty said,

“Collaboration is the cornerstone of the “We are Cork” brand, which should be adopted widely in the coming weeks and months.  The brand has unilateral support from all major players in Cork, unifying Cork’s positioning and messaging to help us tell the Cork story cohesively overseas as well as at home.  With Brexit around the corner, it is vital to be prepared for the challenges and opportunities that this will inevitably bring. We are Cork is vital to our strategy to help realize the ambitious growth targets for our Region set by Government in Ireland 2040.”

 

Cork County Council Chief Executive Tim Lucey said:

“We Are Cork is a brand under which we are united in showcasing the Cork region on a local, national and international stage. Cork is unique in terms of its offering, balancing significant urban growth with a quality of life across our rural, coastal and Island communities that is second to none.  Our highly talented workforce and low cost of doing business is a proven attraction but it is the quality of how we live that secures retention.  We Are Cork has incredible potential, we just need to live it now and into the future.”

 

With a population of over half a million people, Cork will see an investment of €200 million in public transport in the coming years and €214 million on roads in the next three years. New flights continue to bolster the region’s accessibility, with a number of direct flights to the USA and almost 15 flights daily to and from the UK.

 

Residential costs are 30% lower in Cork when compared to Dublin.  Cork has previously topped the Financial Times ‘European League for Foreign Direct Investment’ table and is currently home to 158 FDI companies located in the Region, including global leaders such as Dell EMC and Vmware, Pfizer, Eli Lilly among others.  Cork has also been voted the top small city for business friendliness and the 3rd friendliest location in the world, among with numerous accolades from travel, food, culture and arts.  It is against this proven track record that the region’s stakeholders have joined forces to bolster Cork’s thriving ecosystem and ensure a unified communications message of success from the region.

 

Lawrence Owens, CEO of Cork Business Association added,

"Cork has so much to offer. It's a great place to live, work, study, invest and indeed, to succeed. The Cork Business Association has played a key role in the development of the new Cork Place Brand and is excited about how we can harness it to continually inform local, national and international audiences of the power of Cork. Cork is leading the way for the rest of Ireland with this innovative new collaboration, it's the first of it's kind in the country. We are so pleased with the collaborative approach taken by all involved with the "We Are Cork" brand and the vast array of stakeholders in attendance here at the launch this morning. We are now calling on the people of Cork to support this brand and use it going forward."

 

 

For more information and to download a copy of the We are Cork brand, visit www.wearecork.ie or follow #wearecork on social media.

 

 

Media enquiries to Renate Murphy, CAMEO Communications, 086 814 5462, renate@cameo.ie. 

 

Cork Airport Welcomes Ryanair’s Bumper 2019 Summer Schedule

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New route announcement to Budapest

 

14 September 2018: Cork Airport, Ireland’s second busiest and best connected airport, welcomes Ryanair’s announcement today (14 September) that it is to launch a new twice-weekly service to Budapest, commencing in April 2019.

The airline, which has now announced four new destinations from Cork Airport in recent weeks, is to grow its Cork traffic by 20% next year. Ryanair’s expansive summer schedule from Cork for 2019 will see it deliver 1.1 million customers through Munster's busiest international airport.

In total, more than 2.4 million passengers will travel through Cork Airport this year, flying to destinations across the UK, continental Europe and a direct transatlantic service to the USA (Boston Providence) with Norwegian. Cork Airport is forecasting growth of 4% this year, with scheduled flights to over 40 destinations operated by nine airlines.

Ryanair’s new Budapest service commences on 4 April 2019, running Thursdays and Sundays. The airline has also recently announced a twice-weekly service to Malta from Cork; a five-times weekly service between Cork and Luton Airport starting on 28 October as part of Ryanair’s 2018/19 winter schedule; and a twice-weekly service to Poznań in Poland from 2 April 2019.

Ryanair is extending its summer service from Cork to Faro into the winter season making it a year-round service.

Cork Airport Managing Director Niall MacCarthy stated: “I am delighted that Ryanair has announced this major expansion at Cork Airport. As Ireland’s most punctual airport and winner of the Airport Council International (ACI) European Airport of the Year in 2017, Cork Airport is the perfect choice for this 20% passenger expansion announced by Ryanair. We welcome the four exciting new routes to Budapest, London Luton, Malta and Poznań and the 1.1 million passengers who will fly through Cork Airport with Ryanair next year.

"The team at Cork Airport is firmly committed to growth, operational excellence and business and tourism connections. Today’s announcement fully supports and underlines these objectives. With the support of our Munster passenger base and regional stakeholders, we look forward to a strong and vibrant 2019 with further growth to come.”

Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer Kenny Jacobs said: “Our summer 2019 schedule will deliver 1.1m customers p.a. at Cork Airport (growth of 20%), all on the lowest fares, as we continue to grow Cork routes, traffic, tourism and jobs.”

Cork set for Jazz Renaissance

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2018 Guinness Cork Jazz Festival Programme is officially launched!

 

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival today announced their full programme of events for 2018.  The festival takes place over the October Bank Holiday Weekend (25th to 29th October) and features an incredible line-up of all things jazz!

 

Nearly 1,000 jazz musicians from over 20 countries are flying into Cork for the weekend, including major headline acts like China Moses, Laura Mvula, Blind Boys of Alabama, Nnenna Freelon, Stanley Clarke, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and The Maria Schneider Orchestra.

 

Cork’s very own Paul Dunlea has also been announced as the inaugural Artist in Residence of the Festival for the 2018/2019 period which will see Cork being represented at key jazz venues and festivals around the world through numerous partnerships.
The exciting new programme also includes a ‘Dia De Los Muertos’ Jazz Parade (Parade of the Walking Dead), free Jazz on the Plaza with open-air gigs, a bespoke light and jazz show, Unity at Live at St. Lukes,  flash mobs will bring the streets to life, a live multi-disciplinary theatre and jazz show, Requiem for Truth in Nano Nagles, Goldie Chapel along with a Swing Jive in City Hall, and a Jazz Bites food fair, all of which will add even more excitement for revellers over the weekend.

 

Worth an estimated €35 million to the local economy, the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, presenting its 41st Festival, is undergoing a renaissance this year under the direction of new Festival Director Sinéad Dunphy, who promises “an augmented and better than ever festival experience”.  “We aim to grow the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival so that it emulates the success of major international jazz events like Montreal and New Orleans.  This will ensure that Cork continues to be the home of jazz in Ireland, and one of the most important arts festivals in the world.  Our Festival has the potential to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world and my foremost intention is to bring Cork and its Jazz offering to the mainstage of the world where we belong”.

 

 

“The Festival of course would not be possible without the ongoing commitment of Diageo, the local publicans and hoteliers, the dedication of the hard-working festival committee and the tremendous support from local stakeholders”.

 

If you’re looking to catch some of the headline acts, the main venues include the legendary festival club at The Metropole, where the festival was founded, The Everyman, Cork City Hall, Cork Opera House, Cork School of Music and Firkin Crane Theatre along with Triskel Arts Centre playing host to world renowned ECM label’s own programme of world-renowned artists as part of the ‘Triskel ECM Weekend’.

 

As usual there will also be plenty of free entertainment in over 70 city venues including pubs, hotels, restaurants, galleries, public buildings and club venues as well as on the city streets.

 

 

Programme Highlights:

Programme highlights include Grammy award-winning Maria Schneider and her Orchestra for their first-ever Irish appearance, the legendary Blind Boys of Alabama, celebrated US Jazz singer and composer Nnenna Freelon, UK soul songstress Laura Mvula, Chicago’s Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Cork’s own Brian Deady, Stanley Clarke, Billy Childs Ensemble, Billy Cobham, Fred Hersch, T.S. Monk, Donny McCaslin, Belfast’s jazz evangelist Linley Hamilton, Frank Vignola’s Hot Jazz Trio, Pablo Ziegler Trio and China Moses.

 

Additional artists set to feature at ‘The Late Room’ at the Cork Opera House include Ireland’s Umbra, David O'Rourke & Paul Dunlea Duo, Ronan Guilfoyle, The Paul Dunlea Sextet, Cormac McCarthy's Sùp Trio as well as the poetic Chicago-born Jazz singer/songwriter Sachal Vasandani and his Quartet. While over at the Cork School of Music, Cork’s favourite international operatic soprano, Mary Hegarty turns to the dark side again for another chapter of the Jazz Songbook.

 

In partnership with the Festival, Triskel Arts Centre will also curate a weekend of music and film from the world’s most prestigious jazz record label ECM which is sure to excite jazz music enthusiasts.

 

 

The Fringe:

For the first time ever, the weekend will kick off with a fantastic carnival-like ‘Dia De Los Muertos’ Jazz Parade on Thursday evening, 25th October.  This bright and colourful spectacle will roam through the streets of Cork bringing with it the alluring dance of the macabre. The deadly display, which is a nod to Mexico’s famous ‘Day of the Dead’ Parade, will include street performers and floats from Cork Community ArtLink who will partake in a New Orleans funeral procession with live improvising jazz musicians paying homage to the greatest artists of jazz gone from this world.  It’s the perfect start to Halloween season and will make you want to get your jazz on for the weekend ahead.

 

Also, this year’s festival will celebrate the golden era of the social dancehalls of a century ago with The Swing Jive on Saturday 27th October at Cork City Hall, where two of Europe’s biggest Jazz dance bands Meschya Lake and The Dizzy Birds and Gentlemen & Gangsters will be joined by international dancers, members of the Irish Swing Community who will reacquaint jazz festival party people with the One-Step, Two-Step, Waltz, Foxtrot, Peabody, Balboa, Shag, Lindy Hop, Swing and Jive dances. Dress sharp, polish those shoes and bring your best self for an unforgettable night which promises to be one of the biggest dance e vents ever seen in Cork city.

 

In another first for the Festival, a specially commissioned piece by the Festival, an immersive audio visual experience fuses Jazz, contemporary classical music and electronica into the beautiful setting of St Lukes church. Stunning 4k microscopic projections, an impressive lighting show, and a live jazz quartet unite to open this year's programme, asking us to examine what it is that connects, unifies and binds us. ‘Unity’ will be performed by The David Duffy Quartet comprising of four musicians on the fringes of Jazz.

 

And for those theatre buffs in the world, the Festival is also presenting a live theatre and jazz show, Requiem for Truth in Nano Nagles, Goldie Chapel. Truth, we are told, is dead. If so, then who organises the funeral? Stomptown Brass, the outrageously energetic 10-piece street-funk band, and Collapsing Horse, the most exciting young theatre company in Ireland, invite you to join them as they take on an audacious task: to host a funeral for the Truth. Witness the colourful exuberance of the Haitian Voodoo-inspired New Orleans jazz funeral as it smashes up against the mournful, solemn ceremony of Roman Catholicism. An extravagant, chaotic street party, with a dark twist.

 

A huge number of the musicians playing over the weekend will perform at free open air gigs on Emmet Place Plaza over the weekend, along with a Jazz Bites Food Fair keeping the masses fed on the finest of artisanal foods. Keep an eye out for our touring Jazz bus bringing jazz to the people through routes weaving through Cork, while down on the ground, all sorts of jazz and brass ensembles will bring the streets to life with impromptu walk abouts and New Orleans Jazz Funeral processions!

 

**

To purchase tickets visit www.guinnessjazzfestival.com

Follow the festival social channels for the latest news:

Follow Cork Jazz Festival on Facebook 

Follow Cork Jazz Festival on Twitter

#GuinnessCorkJazz

 

Planning permission a ‘game-changer’ for Cork quays

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The Cork Business Association welcomes the decision by Cork City Council to approve planning for the 250,000 sq ft JCD Development Penrose Dock on Penrose Quay, which will have the capacity for 2,250 jobs when completed in 2020.

A major planning approval this week brings to €300m the value of development set to flow onto Cork City’s north quays, by CIÉ’s Kent railway station.

 

Cork City Council has approved a planning application for a €125m office development, Penrose Dock on Penrose Quay, spanning 250,000 sq ft across two buildings. Proposed by John Cleary Developments, it says it has the capacity for 2,250 jobs when completed in 2020.

 

The decision to grant the permission comes shortly after BAM/Clarendon Properties got the green light to develop a €160m mixed-use scheme right alongside, called HQ on Horgan’s Quay, in conjunction with land owners CIE.

 

The HQ scheme includes 237 apartments for the letting market, a hotel, and 390,000 sq ft of offices, likely to take four years to complete.

 

Last night, JCD said it hopes to move on site as soon as next month, with 300 construction jobs via builders PJ Hegarty & Sons. It said the Wilson Architecture- designed scheme “is seen as adding substantial momentum to Cork City Council’s Docklands Development Strategy, by bringing balance to both the North and South Quays”.

 

 

Chief executive John Cleary described the granting as “a game-changer” for the north quays. “It also brings balance to the economic progress we have seen along the city’s quays in recent years and is another positive step forward in the strategy for the overall development of Cork’s Docklands,” he said.

 

The scheme can create another large employment centre in the city, with the potential for over 2,000 people to work there once it’s complete in the first half of 2020.

 

"This is great news for Cork City and the wider area with the inevitable knock-on effect of increased employment while this development is under construction and when completed. It also has the potential to attract international firms to Cork City Centre. With the arrival of US firm Forcepoint who will take residence at 85 South Mall we expect there will be a multitude of job opportunities for local graduates.", commented Philip Gillivan, CBA President.

 

JCD representatives have been active in the US this month, over potential occupiers for Penrose Dock.

 

Last week it confirmed a letting at its 85 South Mall office scheme, currently under construction, to US-based cybersecurity firm Forcepoint, which will join KPMG there.

 

JCD buildings in Cork house more than 4,500 workers in projects from Mahon’s City Gate to One Albert Quay to The Capitol, spanning 850,000 sq ft.

 

 

Minister Simon Coveney hailed the swift planning approval as “greatly helping to meet the massive demand for grade-A office space in metropolitan Cork”.

 

 

Commenting Lawrence Owens, CEO Cork Business Association, " This is incredibly positive news not alone for Cork City but also for the region. This development will undoubtedly add further impetus to the Cork City Docklands Project and the sheer scale of the enterprise will bring huge economic and social benefit to the area".

 

It faces the rapidly advancing O’Callaghan Properties’ Navigation Square development across the River Lee, where a second office block start is imminent, likely to see tower cranes simultaneously on Cork’s north and south quays, as developers compete to capture FDI demand.

 

Conor Healy of Cork Chamber of Commerce, said it was “yet another huge boost for the business landscape, employment, and economic growth in Cork”.

 

Source: Tommy Barker, The Irish Examiner

 

CBA President Shines a Light on Homelessness

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We are proud to announce that the CBA President, Philip Gillivan, we be taking part in the Focus Ireland, Shine a Light Night 2018 on behalf of the Cork Business Association.

 

 

Shine a Light Night is a truly touching event where the Business Community come together for one night to raise vital funds and to stand in solidarity with people experiencing homelessness in Ireland today. Focus Ireland works with people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes across Ireland. They offer individuals and families advice, support, education and housing to help people to have and keep a home. Focus Ireland and the CBA believe that everyone has a right to a place they can call home and Focus Ireland campaigns to address the causes of homelessness.

 

This year’s Shine a Light Night will take place on Friday 12th October on Spike Island. Over the coming weeks Philip will be fundraising for Focus Ireland with the hope of reaching his goal of €3000 for this very deserving organisation.

 

If you would like to support Philip on his sleep-out, you can donate HERE.

Cork Businesses in support of Focus Ireland’s upcoming Shine A Light Night

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Spike Island lends itself to highlighting just how isolating life can be for people who are homeless or in danger of falling into homelessness.

 

Shine A Light Night 2018 is only five weeks away with the Business Leaders Sleep Out this year being staged on Spike Island. The spectacular Cork Harbour setting, Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction last year, is supporting Focus Ireland’s fight against homelessness on October 12, and the people of Cork can take part too.

 

The Focus Ireland organised evening was held in the AIB on South Mall on the 6th September . Speakers at the event included Ger Spillane, Regional Manager Focus Ireland, John Crotty , Spike Island Manager with the evening mcc’d by Dick White, Focus Ireland.

 

 

Speaking on the night, Focus Ireland  Regional Manager Ger Spillane stated “Focus Ireland is delighted that the Business Community of Cork is coming together for one night to help raise €1 million to reach more families, who need their help, more than ever before.  By sleeping out for one night, you can help change the life of a man, woman or child experiencing homelessness locally.”

 

Cork Shine a Light Night participants will be transported from Cobh to Spike Island on the night of the 12th. John Crotty, Manager of Spike Island, is full of enthusiasm for the event and stated “I feel that our location lends itself to highlighting just how isolating life can be for people who are homeless or in danger of falling into homelessness”

 

The evening presented participating business people an opportunity to be briefed on the work of Focus Ireland and to be updated on Shine a Light. Dick White of Focus Ireland explained “ Shine a Light builds awareness of the work we do, highlights the issue of homelessness and generates an income stream to deliver our services. To do this we need the continued backing of Cork people and business who have already been hugely supportive. Crucially 89 cent of every 1 euro we spend goes directly back into the services we deliver. ”

 

The 2017 Shine A Light Night received huge support from the local community, it allowed Focus Ireland to provide a range of housing, educational support and Advice and Information Services.

 

 

Some key Focus Ireland Cork achievements in 2017 included:

  • Focus Ireland supported 191 men and women with Advice and Information Services locally in Cork in 2017.
  • The organisation now provides 180 homes for men, women and children across the South-West and Mid-West of the country.
  • Seven young people who have progressed from Focus Ireland Youth Education programmes in Cork will commence third level at UCC and CIT next month.

There are three ways to take part in Shine A Light Night 2018.

  • The Business Leaders event is being held on Spike Island on Friday, October 12.
  • You can also get your team together and organise Shine A Light at Work by hosting a workplace Sleep Out, to raise awareness and generate funds for essential local Focus Ireland services.
  • Shine A Light in the Community gives the option to the wider community to organise an event in your local park, club, town or village.

 

Shine a Light Night is a fully supported Focus Ireland event. All participants will receive fundriaisng support, materials and advice. To register today or for further information please contact Dick White (dick.white@focusireland.ie or 086 8223690), or  register on Focusireland.ie/shinealight .