Why no official outlet for culture tickets?

THE Cork Capital of Culture celebration has disappointed even before it officially begins today. Why weren’t tickets for the opening ceremonies made available at some official city location?

On the morning of December 31, I went to the local Supervalu customer service desk to check if noon next day was the correct opening time for distribution of tickets. I was advised that there was no need to return on New Year’s Day as the tickets had all gone.

When I asked how this could have happened if they were not supposed to be handed out before then, I was told that “people called down and they took loads”.