Cork city rose to the occasion during covid, but is starting to lose its shine

How we use our city and town centres changed a lot during the pandemic — and they haven't fully recovered

Princes Street in Cork City has lost some of its vigour since its outdoor amenities were installed during the pandemic. Picture: Larry Cummins

Two years out from the most significant global health scare in a century, what are the consequences of covid on the wellbeing of Irish towns and cities?

Cork is generally perceived to have had a good covid. The city embraced public dining and increased pedestrianisation. In contrast, the narrative in Dublin is of the capital abandoned to antisocial behaviour and fighting a rear-guard action to win back civic control. The recent Dublin task force report noted that ‘every stakeholder group reports that Dublin feels less safe, is heavily littered, and visibly rundown’. Is the future Mean Streets or Emily in Paris?