Cork’s greening from ear to ear!
By Katie O'Keeffe
The biggest weekend in Cork since the pandemic first hit in 2020 is nearing and excitement is growing.
“It’s been two years since we looked forward to a week like this, we have Cheltenham, Six Nations and the St Patrick’s Festival, it's going to be great fun for all,” said Cork City & County Chairperson of Vintners Federation of Ireland Michael O'Donovan. The hospitality industry is currently gearing up for what they expect will be their busiest weekend since March 2020.
“Delivery drivers have told me they haven't seen days like this in a long time,” said the owner of The Castle Inn.
He added: “I think people took weeks like this for granted before, whereas now it's just a great sense of anticipation. All staff in the industry and owners are greatly excited for the coming days.”
Cork Airport expect that over 26,000 passengers will travel through Cork Airport over the course of the extended St Patrick’s Holiday, with over 5,000 passengers anticipated on Sunday. With the lifting of the remaining travel restrictions, the extra bank holiday and the return of horse racing enthusiasts travelling to and from the Cheltenham Festival, Cork Airport will experience its busiest St Patrick’s Holiday in three years.
This year, Ireland is getting an extra bank holiday this Friday in recognition of the lives lost to Covid-19 during the pandemic and the two years of incredible work of those on the frontline of the battle against Covid-19.
As the world begins to return to normal, cultural venues all over Cork will mark Ireland’s national holiday, hosting a wide range of in person theatre, music, dance and cultural events.
And of course, the main event - Cork’s St Patrick’s Day Parade - makes a very welcome return.
This abundance of colour, pageantry, puppetry and performance takes to the streets at 1pm on St Patrick’s Day.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Colm Kelleher said: “The St Patrick’s Day parades were the first events to be cancelled in 2020, so it’s only right they should be the first big events to appear back on our streets. Getting through these past two years is certainly something to be celebrated, and as part of that the Cork parade will celebrate the ordinary heroes of our times.”
The theme of the parade is Heroes- Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times and the parade will celebrate the individuals and organisations who have made a difference to their communities especially during the pandemic.
Cork Community Art Link are thrilled to present a spectacular display of craftsmanship, street arts and performance this Patrick’s Day.
The arts organisation and registered charity will be marching a huge articulated granny and a mechanised, piloted biplane and much more down the streets of Cork!
The Art Link have collaborated this year with the Aisling Community Access Programme Blackpool, Cope Foundation YMCA, National Learning Network (Skills for Life and Directions), Cork City Firebirds as well as students from UCC Department of Theatre.
The streets of Cork city will come to life once again this St Patrick's Day at 12.45pm and it can be live streamed on corkcity.ie.