Monopoly boy — but not as you know it
The city’s Shandon bells will ring out across “de banks” this morning to celebrate the Rebel version of Monopoly, which hits the shelves at 9am.
A large consignment of games arrived on an Aer Lingus flight from Britain on Wednesday, and have been kept under lock and key ahead of today’s launch.
But the Irish Examiner can reveal that the iconic Shandon steeple has landed one of the two most expensive board slots, alongside Blarney Castle, and followed by Fota House Arboretum and Gardens.
Among the other Leeside landmarks in the game are Cork Opera House, the City Gaol, Blackrock Castle, the English Market, St Patrick’s Street, Opera Lane, Merchant’s Quay, City Hall, and UCC.
The Irish Examiner, which was founded in Cork in 1841, has also secured its own square on the board.
However, while Munster rugby, synonymous with Limerick, has landed its own square alongside Cork Racecourse and Kinsale golf club, there is no reference to the county’s proud GAA heritage. Earlier this year, people were invited to vote online for their favourite landmarks to appear on the game.
Dan Taylor, Monopoly manager at London-based Winning Moves UK, makers of the board game under license from Hasbro, said he felt the new board captured the spirit of Cork.
He urged the public to don their top hats and take a roll of the dice at the official launch at the Firkin Crane centre at 9am.
“The game is a wonderful celebration of Cork’s crown jewels. It’s been a wonderful five months consulting with the public. They got really involved and sent in thousands of votes. We would like to formally thank people for their input. Without it, this board could not have been produced.”
The playing pieces and rules will stay the same as will the four corner squares — Go, Jail, Free Parking, and Go To Jail.
There will be lots of customised twists including Community Chest and Chance cards with a decidedly Cork flavour and feel.
Mr Taylor said they had been inundated with orders from Corkonians living all over the world.
Cork Airport director Niall MacCarthy said he was delighted to see the airport on the board: “The Cork public take great pride in where they come from. I am sure we will be flying a number of the new Monopoly sets out to Irish living abroad to go under their Christmas trees this year.”
Monopoly first hit shop shelves in the US in 1935. It is now played in 111 countries and enjoyed in 43 languages. It was also launched on the Apple iPhone in Feb 2010.
* Monopoly: Cork Edition, priced €29.99, will be available for sale at Easons, Smyths and Waterstones, and online.
COMMUNITY CHEST CARDS
* You mess up the words to ‘The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee’: Pay $50 for embarrassing your friends.
* Congratulations. You won a scholarship to study at UCC: Receive $100.
CHANCE
* You forget to pay the bill at the Farmgate Cafe, English Market: Pay $15 to avoid washing up.
* You get a hole-in-one at Kinsale Golf Club: Collect $50.
WIN YOUR OWN CORK MON0POLY SET
