€8.25m conference centre cash for Howard Holdings halted

CORK’S city manager has withdrawn an offer to troubled building firm Howard Holdings to invest over €8 million of public money in the development of a conference centre.

The city council offered the investment in 2007 to encourage the private sector to build a 5,000-seat conference and events centre for the city. The council invited expressions of interest by offering to take a 25% stake – up to a maximum of €12m – in such a venue.

Several proposals emerged, but the Howard Holdings’ proposal, pitched as part of its ambitious €1 billion Atlantic Quarter docklands development, was judged to offer the best potential.