Lack of available land keeping Port of Cork in the city for longer, says CEO 

Chief executive Ann Doherty said developments in offshore renewable energy infrastructure meant the Port of Cork would remain in Tivoli until 2045

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien pictured with Port of Cork Company CEO Ann Doherty and Chairperson Michael Walsh during the presentation of the Port of Cork's Corporate Strategy 2026–2030 in Cork. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan / OSM PHOTO

A lack of available land in Ringaskiddy and Marino Point will keep the Port of Cork Company (PoCC) operating in the city for longer despite ambitious plans to vacate its city centre and Tivoli sites to allow for housing and mixed-use developments, its CEO has said. 

Speaking to the Irish Examiner,chief executive Ann Doherty said that the company's re-purposing of land in Ringaskiddy to support offshore renewable wind meant it no longer had space to migrate some of its operations from the city. 

"Our development of offshore renewable energy infrastructure has evolved massively, which means we will have to stay in Tivoli for a lot longer. 

"We have 25 acres of lay-down area for assembly in Ringaskiddy, which is earmarked to facilitate that offshore product when it comes. In the meantime, that land is being used for other customers. But all of that requires us to keep the Tivoli site functional."

Ms Doherty said that plans to relocate the company's container terminal from Tivoli to Ringaskiddy cannot happen in the short term, due to its commitment to offshore renewable energy at the site.

"That commitment is until 2045. That means that Tivoli has to be able to facilitate trade in the interim, so we will not be out of there before that time. We are going to be there a lot longer than anticipated. But that does not mean that we cannot start developing the Tivoli site.

"We have the capacity to develop the site to the west, the part closest to the city, which could be delivered a lot earlier, but that does require the road infrastructure to be upgraded."

Tivoli Docks regeneration

Last month saw a critical step taken for the multi-million euro regeneration of Tivoli Docks by the PoCC, with a planning application being lodged with Cork City Council to open up access to the site.

The planning application focuses on essential infrastructure, including a €80m new eastern multi-modal access interchange at the Glanmire Road roundabout and vital road, bus and cycleway upgrades to the Silversprings western access. The bid was lodged to enable long-term regeneration as port operations gear up to move downstream out of Tivoli Docks and the city quays to Ringaskiddy and Marino Point.

The proposed €80m eastern multi-modal access interchange at the Glanmire Road roundabout.

Long-term plans for the 153-acre site, once the infrastructure is in place, include housing, schools, and parking/mobility hubs.

Ms Doherty noted that it was essential that further land be acquired in Ringaskiddy and Marino Point for customers, which the CEO said was "extremely challenging."

The PoCC's site at Marino Point has been dealt several blows in recent years, with plans by Goulding Chemicals to relocate their operations there from Cork City being refused by the planning commission in late 2024.  In its decision, the commission ruled that the plans would cause a road safety hazard due to increased traffic, particularly around Belvelly Bridge.

Another bid by Ion Renewables to build a battery energy storage system at the former Irish Fertiliser Industries (IFI) site at Marino Point was shot down by the commission just a few months later. 

"Marino Point currently cannot be developed how we want it to be," Ms Doherty said. "It also means that we still have customers to serve in the city.

"These delays are coming from the use of the road to Cobh. So, only customers who do not need to use that road can use Marino Point. That sort of customer is not visible to us at the moment. Until the road is done, Marino Point will remain limited."

Launching the PoCC's corporate strategy 2026-2030, Ms Doherty said it sets out the actions the company needs to take and the outcomes it expects to deliver.

A core focus of the strategy is strengthening global connectivity and boosting sustainable trade and economic activity in the region, as well as contributing to Ireland's net-zero targets.

"Our focus now is implementation, progressing the infrastructure that unlocks capacity, strengthening our operations, supporting our people and ensuring we are positioned strongly for the opportunities and challenges ahead," Ms Doherty said.