City manager defends method of advertising

CORK’S city manager has defended using the main street’s landmark lights for advertising.

Dozens of large triangular flags advertising an engineering exhibition in City Hall have been strapped to some of St Patrick’s Street’s 13 Pitmit lights, valued at €17,429 each, and to some of the 22 Sarah Flannery Lamps, valued at €17,111 each.

The striking lights were designed by Catalan architect Beth Gali as part of the complete overhaul of the main thoroughfare completed in 2004. Since then, flags advertising festivals and civic events have been attached to the lamps using plastic cable ties.