Free parking for Cork city aims to boost trade

A free parking initiative on almost 2,000 parking spaces in Cork City is set to be introduced next week in a bid to boost pre-Christmas trade.

City officials have, for the third year in a row, prepared the parking promotion in a bid to encourage footfall in the city centre.

Families are specifically being encouraged to visit the city centre on Saturdays, with confirmation that the hugely popular 30m Ferris wheel — which was one of the biggest attractions at last year’s Glow Christmas festival and market on the Grand Parade — will again be a central feature of this year’s event.