Live at the Marquee success shows ‘need for permanent venue’

THE success of Cork’s Live at the Marquee music festival over the last five years proves the need for a permanent events centre in the city, a leading promoter said last night.

Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions, who launched his sixth Live at the Marquee series in the city’s docklands last night with legendary heavy metal group, Megadeth, said the city needs a 5,000-capacity venue to continue to attract top international music acts.

“The biggest venue in Cork is the Opera House – that’s just 900 people. There should be an events centre in every major city in Ireland. Castlebar has a 2,200-capacity venue and that can survive,” he said.