Calls for Cork event centre to be scrapped and retendered

The former head of Beamish and Crawford has called for the controversial Cork event centre project to be scrapped and retendered.

Business consultant Alf Smiddy, who was chairman and managing director of Beamish and Crawford plc between 1998 and 2008, said public confidence in the process has been shattered by the project’s spiralling costs which have risen from €53m to €65m, and the lack of a clear timeline for the delivery of the 6,000-seat venue earmarked for the former brewery site.

“I think this controversy is going to drag on and drag on, and that the time has come to bite the bullet and start with a clean slate,” Mr Smiddy said.