Regeneration of Cork is a vision of what the city is capable of in coming decades

If you need tangible evidence of how Cork City is regenerating then take a look at the close-to-complete Albert Quay office block next to City Hall. It signifies modernity, confidence and a vision about what the city is capable of undertaking over the coming decades.

The go-ahead last week for the development of the Capitol Cinema site at the western end of the city centre is another marker about the momentum sweeping across town.

Aside from the direct construction jobs involved in completing the project, it will provide retail, office, and food hall energy to that side of the city. And after that?