February 2016 - Cork Business Association

CBA welcomes O Callaghan Properties new €90m development

Posted on February 24, 2016December 10, 2018 by cbaadmin

The Cork Business Association welcomes the announcement of this significant new €90m office development for Cork City’s quays.Coming on the back of work commencing on the Capitol Cinema site and the turning of the sod on the Events Centre this is further good news for Cork city. It demonstrates a mark of confidence in the second city’s employment prospects — much of it foreign direct investment-sourced jobs — as is evident in recent jobs announcements and arrivals such as Tyco.

An artist's impression of how the aerial view of the Albert Quay site will look when it is completed.

Behind the plan for a significant office/technology complex of 360,000sq ft in flour blocks on Albert Quay are O’Callaghan Properties: This site has been assemble over several years, previously proposing a 6,000 seat, 100,000sq ft event centre here on 1.75 acres.

Now, this bigger site has loftier accommodation ambitions, in five and six floors of offices, above 300 basement parking spaces in an evolving and shifting central business district.

It is a catalyst for further renewal, says O’Callaghan Properties, whose previous Cork developments of note include Mahon Point, Opera Lane, Half Moon St, and shopping centres such as Merchants Quay.

At 360,000sq ft, it is over twice the size of John Cleary Developments’ just finished One Albert Quay’s 170,000sq ft, and shares the same architects, Henry J Lyons.

It is more than three times the size of the office element of City Quarter on Lapps Quay, by the Clarion Hotel.

It is the same size as John Cleary Developments 360,000sq ft City Gate in Mahon, which includes offices, a private hospital, and a clinic among other elements. And, it is larger than the subsequent John Cleary Developments major Mahon office scheme, the €70m City Gate Park, which saw 300,000sq ft built and occupied during the economic downturn, between 2012 and 2014.

O’Callaghan Properties said “this project will help to reinforce the identity of the Cork City brand internationally and underpin the “marketability” of the city as a location for major investment projects”

Commenting Lawrence Owens Chief Executive of The Cork Business Association said "We are absolutely delighted with this announcement by O Callaghan Properties,the scale of this development will help transform the area and provide much needed employment initially in construction and later provide space for up to 3000 employees."

Cork Airport transatlantic flights update

Posted on February 19, 2016February 25, 2016 by cbaadmin

Cork Business Association President Pat O'Connell was in direct communication with the Department of the Taoiseach to convey our concern with today's announcement that plans for Cork - US flights scheduled for May have been deferred. During this discussion the importance of this route for business and tourism in the Munster region was again highlighted. We asked that the Taoiseach use all his influence to ensure that whatever issues are continuing to delay Norwegian Airlines Irish subsidiary’s application for a foreign carrier permit with the US (DoT) are resolved as a matter of urgency.

The delays have also forced the deferral of its proposed Cork to Barcelona service, which would have shared airline crews and aircraft with the proposed Boston service.

However, the huge low-fares airline, which has also voiced plans to launch a Cork to New York service next year, reaffirmed its commitment to introduce transatlantic flights from Cork Airport.

A Norwegian Airlines spokesman said it is not ruling out the possibility of launching the Boston service before the end of this year t hinges on the outcome of an arbitration process triggered by the European Commission which could take at least four months to reach a conclusion.

In a statement last night, Norwegian Airlines said: “Due to continued delays by the US Department of Transportation, our intention to begin flights from Cork in May is no longer possible but we still intend to start flights as soon as possible this summer.

“We will continue to fight for our clear and legitimate right for a foreign carrier permit and we welcome any steps by the Irish and European authorities to help resolve this issue.

“It is clear there is huge support for these routes so we urge the US authorities to put passengers first by finally approving our application.”

An airline spokesman said they are grateful for the huge support they have received from Cork Airport, the Irish authorities, and the public for its planned new routes.

“Not only are we fully committed to new transatlantic flights from Cork this year but we are also looking at options for further expansion in Ireland,” he said.

“We see several interesting route opportunities from Ireland, and look forward to offering both Irish and American customers new routes, more choice, and lower fares.”

The news came a day after the Irish Examiner revealed that the European Commission has invoked an arbitration process in a bid to break the impasse over the airline’s licence application

Pat O Connell elected as new President of Cork Business Association

Posted on February 8, 2016February 19, 2016 by cbaadmin

The Cork Business Association has elected Mr Pat O Connell, of K. O’Connell Fish Merchants in the English Market, as our new President. Pat’s term will last until February 2017.

Pat is taking over the reins from Claire Nash, of Nash 19, who had a hugely successful two year term as President. She was instrumental in renewing the Christmas parking promotion and for re-organising the Cork Business Association into areas that would most benefit the city, including Retail, Tourism, Infrastructure, Security, Movement, Policy, Social, and Communications.

She will continue to play an active role with the Cork Business Association and as immediate past president she will be one of its representatives on the Cork City Centre Partnership during 2016.

Commenting on his new appointment, Mr. O’Connell stressed the opportunities for economic development in the city, “I am absolutely honoured to take up the post as President of the Cork Business Association. This is a very exciting time for Cork. Business is picking up, investment is flourishing in the city, various bodies are re-grouping for the betterment of Cork, and there is a really positive sentiment in the city. It’s time to build on that and position ourselves with a competitive edge over all other cities. As a business owner myself, I want to stress how beneficial it has been to be part of this organisation over the years and to remind owners and managers that we are here for you, to promote your interests at local and national level. We will continue to work with all the key stakeholders to revitalise our city and make it a place people want to work, visit and live in. We all need to work together to have one strong voice and this is the voice of business in cork city. So please pick up the phone and see how we can help you and your business”

Pat went on to identify a number of priorities that he will concentrate on during his term in office,

“Food and fresh local produce is close to my heart. Cork is known as the Food Capital of Ireland so we need to ensure we promote our food offering in the right way at all times - the food that we sell in our city is representative of our city, so I will be advocating that upcoming festivals and events in Cork use local produce whenever possible.”

“I am also really ambitious for the city to be seen as a hub for entertainment, music and the arts and look forward to working with all involved in these sectors to fully maximise their potential"

“We will continue to work with Cork Airport to increase connectivity and we hope the first transatlantic flight from Cork will become a reality this year.”

“Finally we will continue to work with Cork City Council and other stakeholders on issues facing our members including Movement, Parking, Rates, Security, Marketing of Cork and the improvement of our street scape.”

Pat concluded by saying, “I would like to thank Claire Nash for her commitment to the Cork Business Association. She has been a highly motivating and dynamic president and has delivered a considerable amount for the association. Claire is leaving me with a much stronger and more relevant organisation and I thank her most sincerely for that. I look forward to working closely with our Chief Executive, Lawrence Owens, who has brought fresh thinking to the CBA since he took up his post more than 2 years ago, and to our executive members who represent all business sectors in cork.”

Commenting on the appointment, Lawrence Owens, CEO of Cork Business Association, said,

"I would like to congratulate Pat O'Connell on his election as our new President and I look forward to working with him during 2016. Pat is a great ambassador for cork he is well known and well liked however he will not shirk tackling the issues of the day. We are extremely fortunate to have someone of Pats calibre to lead our organisation as cork enters an exciting New Development phase".

The Cork Business Association is a not for profit organisation that represents the interests of businesses in Cork. We are the voice of businesses in Cork and we are dedicated to promoting their interests at local and national level and Cork City as the premier commercial and tourist destination in the southern region of Ireland. For further information see www.corkbusiness.ie