‘I take no responsibility for what happened in 2016’
14:12, 22 Dec 2025Updated 14:21, 22 Dec 2025
Crews onsite at the Events Centre – but no, it wasn’t BAM(Image: CorkBeo)
Two months shy of the 10th anniversary of the infamous sod turning at Cork’s non-Event’s Centre, Taoiseach Micheál Martin says it should never have happened when it did, saying he was “firmly asconced to the position at the time.”
The Fianna Fáil leader told CorkBeo: “I take no responsibility for what happened in 2016.
“That was wrong, they shouldn’t have done the sod turning like that because there hadn’t been any real development of that.”
The Cork TD was unable to provide a timeline on when Leesiders can expect tangible progress on the site, claiming the developers will “hopefully” provide one next year.
He attributed much of the delays to BAM, the project’s developers, repatedly looking for more state investment – adding other developers have since said they would have been interested in the project had they known so much funding would be provided.
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“It’s different project now to the one that started in 2016 in terms of the balance of the money.”
“I do understand the frustration and the annoyance because when you mention to people the Events Centre they throw their eyes up to heaven, I get that.”
When asked if the project speaks to a broader issue of Cork city being neglected at a state level, the Taoiseach claimed this was a “crazy assessment to make,” highlighting projects such as the development of the docklands and Grand Parade as well as investment in Cork’s research facilities.
Mr Martin said it was “unfair” to compare the project to the long awaited Cork Luas, claiming that project was only announced last year.
“There’s no one been waiting for the Cork light rail for 10 years.”
Proposed route from Ballincollig to Mahon(Image: Cork Luas)
Looking ahead to Thursday’s festivities, the Taoiseach told CorkBeo he will be spending Christmas Day at home in Ballinlough and in Nemo Rangers catching up with club members over one or two pints – a tradition he used to enjoy with his father when he was younger.
“Really it’s to meet people coming back from overseas, meeting families, it’s more relaxed and not around the frenzy and high temper of matches
“Hopefully then we’ll do a long puck. I enjoy Christmas Day, family will come over, my brothers will come over and we’ll chat about the ‘what might have beens.’
“We’re a sporting mad family so there’ll be rows about who should have won the All Ireland, why Nemo didn’t win the county and all that type of stuff.
With a busy Christmas Day on the cards, he’s pushing out his ice cold sea swim to New Year’s Day in Courtmacsherry where he’ll ring in 2026.
“I’ve been doing it for about 30 years and I keep saying every year ‘why have I landed myself in this?’ but it’s for the RNLI and we do it on the beach or it could be Broadstrand.
“It’s a lovely event because you feel great afterwards.”