Warning over lack of parking and hotels in cruise ship town of Cobh

Schools in Cobh are to be asked to allow tourists to use their car parks over the summer months amid fears that the harbourside town will not be able to cater for an expected increase in visitor numbers.

Cobh is expecting a boom in visitors as a record 100-plus cruise ships are booked to dock in the town this year and following Spike Island’s success at being declared the best tourism destination in Europe.

The concerns were expressed by Cobh Tourism and Cobh & Harbour Chamber of Commerce and the local hospitality sector in general regarding “the dire lack” of hotels and B&B beds in the area.