Cork event centre site 'nothing more than an eyesore with a new bridge to nowhere'
Taoiseach Enda Kenny turning the sod on the €50m Cork event centre with Lord Mayor Chris O'Leary; Tánaiste Joan Burton; minister for defence Simon Coveney; CEO of live Nation Ireland Mike Adamson; and BAM Ireland CEO Theo Cullinane. Picture: Daragh McSweeney/Provision
The Government has been accused of leaving a “bridge to nowhere” in Cork by allowing a decade to pass since the sod was turned on the event centre without any progress.
Then Taoiseach Enda Kenny turned the sod on February 12, 2016.
Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice said the Government’s failure to deliver on the event centre indicates its attitude towards the city.
He said the the Taoiseach turning the sod on February 12, 2016, was a “nice photo op but nothing more”.
“At the time, the press release from the developer, BAM, said that a 6,000-capacity multi-purpose venue would be built within two years,” Mr Rice said.
“A decade on, the only thing the people of Cork have been left with is a large derelict site in the city centre.
"It is nothing more than an eyesore with a new bridge to nowhere.”
The Social Democrats TD said the latest information indicates €2.2m has been spent on the project, without any bricks being laid.
“This must surely now be one of the most expensive vacant sites — and one of the biggest white elephants — in the city,” he added.
Mr Rice said he plans to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the sod turning on Thursday, with an plaque set to be unveiled outlining how the centre is yet to be completed.
“An event centre in Cork has the potential to attract big gigs and shows that are currently skipping Cork,” Mr Rice said.
“It also gives Cork the potential to host big conferences, trade shows, and other large scale community events.
"All of this will have a positive knock on effect on the local economy with more people staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants and drinking in our pubs.”
The Government ordered the project to be sent out for retendering in late 2024 before it provided any more State funding.
When the project was first approved, there was €20m worth of public funding provided to develop the former Beamish and Crawford site on South Main St.
In the interim, this increased to €57m.
It is believed there is a requirement for between €30m to €40m of State funding.
In December, the preliminary business case for the event centre was submitted to the Department of Housing.
The final site for the event centre is yet to be decided, with rival options having been proposed including at a site on the South Docklands.
The event centre itself is due to have a capacity of 6,000, with a final cost expected to be around €150m.
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