Irish Examiner view: Disappointment as America’s Cup bid scuttled

Disappointment for Cork as America's Cup bid gets the thumbs-down.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (R) competes against Emirates Team New Zealand during race ten on day seven of the 36th America's Cup in Auckland on March 17, 2021. Picture:  Gilles Martin-Raget / AFP

Back in September, when it was clear that central Government heel-dragging was accompanying Cork’s ambitious bid to host the America’s Cup, we observed that there was no more certain way of putting a plan into deep freeze than muttering darkly about due diligence, quantifiable returns, and value for money when event organisers want to see some enthusiasm on the part of potential partners.

And so it has proved. After seven months, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media has stopped sitting on its hands and made a decision. And the signal has been a thumbs-down. The hatches have been opened and the project scuttled.