Residents and businesses have endured 18 months of disruption while the town centre got a facelift. A street carnival next weekend should show everyone in the West Cork town that the wait was worth it, writes Noel Baker

Two dozen animals — including tigers, orangutans, crocodiles, and elephants — will arrive in Clonakilty, Co Cork this week as part of a colourful project to transform the town into Ireland’s only jungle city.