Business closures make Cork City a sorry sight

The economy is allegedly improving. This may well be evident in Dublin 2 and 4, where, I suspect, politicians and commentators spend most of their blinkered lives.

In the country’s second city, Cork, the main shopping arteries are floundering because of closures, derelict sites, and charity and discount shops.

North Main Street, part of the city’s medieval main artery, has nine empty shops, two large, derelict sites, eight charity shops, several discount stores, exchange marts and internet cafes. The adjoining Castle Street has one large derelict site and four empty shops.