Michael Moynihan: Are Cork people the victims of an enormous prank designed to baffle the city?

Passed beyond the realm of embarrassment: the site of the proposed event centre at South Main St, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins
Are we in some kind of alternate reality here in Cork? A parallel universe that would be recognisable to the likes of Franz Kafka?
I ask because of a story Alan Healy ran here last week. He revealed “Fáilte Ireland... is working with Cork City Council to resolve what it views as a clear gap in the city’s offering — the absence of a stand-out attraction capable of delivering significant visitor numbers year-round.”