Former Lord Mayor says the new tender process will see other sites emerge as most likely choices
11:55, 23 Jan 2026Updated 13:45, 23 Jan 2026
Crews onsite at the Events Centre – but no, it wasn’t BAM(Image: CorkBeo)
There has been a major update in the fate of the Cork Event Centre – just three weeks ahead of the tenth anniversary of the notorious sod turning on the site.
Independent Councillor and Former Lord Mayor Kieran McCarthy says he has been given a briefing by Cork City Council that – he claims – means the Beamish & Crawford site is unlikely now to be the final site and is effectively ‘off the table’ as the entire process goes back out to tender. However, Cllr McCarthy told CorkBeo that developers BAM, the owners of the site on South Main Street, “if interested, can reapply again to build it there.” BAM have not said what their plans are.
Any attempt to move the prospective site to an alternative location – possibly the south docks area – will be controversial as the Events Centre was always supposed to be at the centre of the south inner city’s revival. There will also be concerns that the site could be used for more short-let Airbnb-style apartments, or ‘student accommodation.’
Cllr McCarthy said there is ‘remains a lot of confusion and vagueness’ around the project. And there appears to be some confusion around exactly what was said at the briefing last night, and how it has been interpreted, with sources telling CorkBeo that the South Main Street site is still very much under consideration and Cllr Peter Horgan – who was also at the meeting, saying: “The decision, if it remains on the same site or move to a different site, is made by the Project Management Board, Cabinet and if a new site suggested I have asked that a full vote of City Council takes place.”
CorkBeo understands that there will be no decision on the site until the proposals from developers are fully considered. However, Cllr McCarthy told CorkBeo that the opening up of the process to potential alternative sites will throw the future of the former Beamish & Crawford site into serious doubt.
Earlier today and posting to social media, Cllr McCarthy said: “The project is going through the stage of going back out to tender again. So the last chosen site on South Main Street is currently off the table and the competition starts again. The overall project remains contentious and there is much public frustration around it.”
“Substantial progress has been made on the new business case, which will be handed over to Central Government. The government will also bear the total cost of all stages of the project.
All costs to date have been borne by the Department of Housing and Local Government. The project is part of the National Development Plan. The tender process will follow after the business case is approved and preparation of tender documents has already begun. A multi-use 6000-7,000 capacity centre is proposed.”
A governance and oversight body has been established. It is chaired by the City Council’s Deputy Chief Executive with representatives of relevant Government agencies. AECOM are the project management delivery team. PwC are providing the financial advisory services. Legal advisory services are being provided by Mason, Hayes & Curran.”
“Stakeholder engagement is ongoing. In February engagement meetings will take place with sectors such as business and tourism, arts and culture, entertainment and creative development & civic policy.”
Cllr McCarthy said there will be 5 delivery stages
Business caseTender documentation preparationProcurement – evaluation of tendersPre contractImplementation, 2 and a half years.
This latest twist in the sorry tale of the Events Centre that saw works ‘start’ in February 2016 will be closely watched by all involved, not least the people living in a city centre that has been blighted with dereliction and lack of development. That is changing, with ambitious plans from Cork City Council to begin the regeneration of the Douglas Street/South Parish area later this year.
There have also been the impressive public realm works around the South Main Street and People’s Park and two new bridges linking French’s Quay and Crosses Green across the Lee.
CorkBeo is reaching out to Taoiseach Michael Martin to ask about this latest development in his constituency. We have also asked Cork City Council for comment.
Cllr Peter Horgan has again underlined the importance of an Events Centre to Cork City saying: ” An event centre, estimated capacity 6-7,000, is vital for the city region and wider county area. It will be multifunctional to allow musicals, shows, sports, conferences and exhibitions. It is a central point of the City Renewal Plan approved by council before Christmas.
We don’t need a taskforce. We don’t need more bureaucrats. We need the funding and the delivery to ensure we can transform the city in to the hub we know it is and can be more of.”