Late night bus service to cater for jazz revellers

A LATE night bus service will operate across Cork city this bank holiday as the city gears up for a recession-proof jazz festival which is expected to generate an estimated €6 million for the local economy.

Festival director Jack McGouran said despite the recession this year’s festival is expanding to create outdoor jazz stages.

“We did very well last year and if we meet the same target this year we will be more than happy,” he said.

“Last year we stepped it up a bit and we are at around 80 venues now. We have consolidated. All the major pubs are involved even out to Douglas and Kinsale and Bishopstown. It is particularly strong in the city centre.”

Bus Éireann confirmed yesterday that it will provide late night services from the city centre to Carrigaline, Ballincollig and Midleton on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, with buses departing at 1am, 2am and 3am.

The Carrigaline service will depart from outside Debenhams on St Patrick’s Street and serve Douglas East Village, Maryborough Hill and Carrigaline.

The Ballincollig service will depart from outside Debenhams and serve Bishopstown via Curraheen Road and Melbourne Road, and Ballincollig.

The Midleton service will depart from outside Eason’s on St Patrick’s Street and serve Carrigtwohill and Midleton.

Single journey fares will be €3 (Douglas, Bishopstown), €5 (Ballincollig, Carrigaline, Carrigtwohill), and €8 (Midleton).

Meanwhile, Kinsale launched its fringe jazz festival last night.

Sixteen pubs and hotels in the harbour town are offering four days of free live entertainment.

Organisers said there was unlikely to be a spare bed in the town as tourists flock in for the bank holiday weekend to enjoy more than 100 live gigs in Kinsale’s relaxed and intimate setting.

And traders in the bustling town, including shops and restaurants, expect the jazz weekend – Kinsale’s last major festival of the year – to be one of their busiest of the year.

Brian O’Neill, who helps run the popular Tap Tavern with his parents Mary and Tim, said: “I wish we could have the fringe jazz festival here every weekend.

“It’s certainly my favourite working weekend of the year, because the crowds that come into Kinsale are superb. Unlike the rugby weekend, there’s never a hint of trouble. The people that come in are up for the craic and sink a lot of pints, but they are on great form all night long.

Jack Walshe, general manager of Acton’s Hotel, said: “The Kinsale jazz weekend has grown and grown throughout the years. When we first started out, there was just a handful of pubs offering music.

“But one of the big attractions here is that all the entertainment is free. What tends to happen is that all the real aficionados of jazz will head to Cork for the weekend, but here is better for the craic.”

This city’s festival programme is packed with many of the biggest names in the jazz world including stars such as Charlie Haden, Robert Glasper, The Brand New Heavies and Maceo Parker.

Hoteliers in Cork have reported that rooms across the city are on course to sell out.

* corkjazzfestival.com