Prince’s Nude tour came to Cork in July 1990 with a 90-strong entourage, which included a road crew of 60. It was breathlessly reported that the popstar was protected by a troupe of kung-fu bodyguards ahead of his concert for 55,000 fans.

The country’s two biggest cities were boosted by major announcements yesterday as more than 100 jobs came on stream in Dublin and Cork’s first internet exchange opened for business.