The progress in other cities makes Cork look like a backwater

The uncomfortable truth is the majority of people in this city voted against Cork having more power

Cork can’t be the ‘real capital’ if it’s run like a sleepy outpost. The veil has to be lifted, and only citizens can do it. Raise the expectations, and everything else follows. File picture: Larry Cummins

When I was growing up, I was told that Cork was the “real capital”. I now know that’s a load of codology. Cork is as lethargic as the morning after a session. 

If our neighbours up in Limerick weren’t ploughing ahead with proactive city-building and placemaking, we might be none the wiser. But the comparison is unavoidable.