Calls for more events to boost businesses in Cork
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New York Brass Band before performing at Cork City Library as part of the Big Fringe. Darragh Kane PhotographyImage 2 of 6
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble played a gig alongside their mother Aquilla Sadalla. Darragh Kane PhotographyImage 3 of 6
The New York Brass Band performing at Jazz on the Plaza, Emmet Place. Darragh Kane PhotographyImage 4 of 6
Barrack St Brass bring jazz to the streets of Cork as part of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. Photos: Darragh KaneImage 5 of 6
American hip-hop act De La Soul perform to a sold out crowd at the Cork Opera House on Sunday night.Image 6 of 6
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble played a special gig alongside their mother Aquilla Sadalla. Darragh Kane PhotographyFinnian Cox
This year’s Guinness Cork Jazz Festival was a roaring success, with record numbers making it the busiest in its 46 year history.
This year’s edition of the festival saw over 100,000 music lovers descend upon Cork for the October bank holiday weekend, with the organisers reporting their highest ever number of sold-out shows.
These record numbers contributed to a €45 million injection into the local economy, with venues and pubs around the city reporting increases in sales.
Former lord mayor of Cork Mick Finn said the success of the festival should be used as a template to plan another festival series in the city.
“The jazz festival this year was phenomenal: there is no reason why we can’t dovetail it with another event like a celebration of Irish bands, music and dancing,” he said. He described how another series of gigs that would showcase local and national talent could be a way to boost business in the city at quieter times.
Colm O’Connor of Costigan’s described a 12% increase in sales compared to last year, describing the weekend as the busiest jazz festival they have had, adding that the city needs more events like it.
Festival Director Mark Murphy said: “This year’s festival has definitely been the biggest success, with the most amount of ticketed events and huge international interest. We’re now attracting some of the biggest names in jazz and music, and the future looks bright for the festival.”
Chief Executive of Cork City Council Valerie O’Sullivan described the range of businesses benefitting from the event.
“Hotels, restaurants, bars and local businesses have yet again seen an incredible surge in business over the weekend with visitors travelling from all over Ireland and the world,” said Ms O’Sullivan. She also commended the businesses for their work over the course of the festival, applauding them for “never failing to deliver the goods for all our festival goers”.She also described the importance of the festival in providing a platform for musicians, as well as highlighting “the city’s hospitality, vibrant culture and night-time economy”.
The weekend saw performances from acts such as De La Soul, Gregory Porter, Buena Vista All-Stars and more, with more than 500 jazz and jazz-influenced artists taking to stages across the county.
Guatemalan, Grammy-award winning guitarist Gaby Moreno described the experience of playing at the festival as “a special moment”.
“It’s an honour to be part of a celebration with so much history, where artists and audiences from all over come together through music,” said Moreno, who performed in the Triskel on Saturday.
American jazz musician Gregory Porter joined her in praising the weekend. “Cork is already a fantastic place. Add to that some wonderful jazz and I love the musical village that the jazz festival has created.”
Festival partners Cork Airport also felt the sudden increase in the county’s population, with over 55,000 people arriving and departing in what they describe as one of their busiest weekends.
As the international gateway to the festival, Cork Airport had bands playing in their terminals to welcome visitors from overseas and prepare them for the festival.