Cork event centre funding winner known next month

The winner of the race between two rival developers for a potential €16m kickstart fund to help build a multi-million euro events centre in Cork City will be announced next month.

It emerged last night that two parties — O’Callaghan Properties, and the joint venture between Heineken Ireland and BAM Contractors — have been invited to submit final tenders ahead of the final decision which will emerge by July 8.

Mr O’Callaghan has planning permission for a €50m 6,000-capacity events centre on Albert Quay.