Councillors vote in favour of Cork event centre despite '€100m vanity project' claims

Vote followed robust defence by city council CEO of how lengthy saga has been handled 

The site of Cork's Event Centre on South Main Street, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

Cork’s city councillors have voted overwhelmingly in favour of pursuing the controversial event centre project which was branded “a €100m Fine Gael vanity project” at a special council meeting on Tuesday.

The vote followed a robust defence of the handling of the lengthy saga by chief executive of Cork City Council, Ann Doherty, who said whatever state aid is finally approved for the venue — above the €57m already pledged — could be recouped even before its doors open.