Loss of Heathrow slots could scupper events centre

The sustainability of Cork’s proposed 6,000-capacity event centre could be thrown into doubt by any takeover of Aer Lingus that would jeopardise routes to London.

The long-awaited centre, which is to act as the cornerstone of a €150m area regeneration, would fail to attract large-scale events if connectivity to Heathrow is jeopardised, one of the co-developers has said.

Heineken Ireland and BAM Contractors won the contract to build the €53m venue on the historic Beamish & Crawford brewery site late last year.