Good morning, Cork! Lots on the move this week: airport upgrades, housing plans, tech jobs, and even a new childcare centre for the northside.

In today’s Cork Current:

Let’s get to it!

Remember that €200m upgrade we flagged last week? Well, the first shovels are now in the ground. Work has officially started on a brand-new mezzanine floor at Cork Airport, which will house a state-of-the-art security hall fitted with C3 scanners. That means no more unpacking liquids or laptops at screening - finally!

The contract has gone to Cork-based builders PJ Hegarty, and the list of improvements is seriously impressive. Alongside the mezzanine, the project includes new body scanners, auto-pass gates, anti-pass back doors, and a full reconfiguration of the arrivals area. A new and larger duty-free shop is also on the way, plus enhanced executive lounges, extra boarding gates, new airbridges, and a long-term car park extension.

There’s even more in the mix: a new pier with additional aircraft parking stands, green-energy ground power units, a new staff and goods security screening area, an oversized baggage scanner, and a 1.7Mw solar farm planned for the Holiday Blue car park.

Cork Airport MD Niall MacCarthy says the investment isn’t just about making travel smoother - it’s also about creating jobs, attracting more visitors, and cementing Cork’s role as the south’s main travel hub. Read more

A major new housing scheme is on the cards for Blackstone Bridge. Outline planning permission has been granted for 88 new homes on a 5.7-hectare site at Blackstone Bridge, between Lower Killeens and Upper Fairhill. The proposal includes 32 two-storey houses and three apartment blocks with a mix of one-bed apartments, two-bed duplexes, and three-bed duplexes.

There’s space planned for 133 cars and 55 bikes, and under Part V rules, 18 apartments and 8 houses will go to social or affordable housing. Previous schemes for this site never got off the ground, but this one looks like the most ambitious yet. We’ll be keeping an eye on how the full planning application develops. Read more

Big win for Cork’s tech scene! US industrial technology giant Acuity Inc. has chosen Penrose Quay for its new Global Digital Centre of Excellence, bringing 100 high-skill jobs to the city.

The company is already recruiting for new roles across Software Engineering, AI, and Product Management - a major boost for Cork’s growing tech sector. You can see the roles they are currently hiring for on their careers website.

Big win for active travel in Cork this week! Two shiny new projects have just opened: a 500-metre pedestrian and cycle path in Carrigaline (connecting Bridgemount Road to Herons Wood) and a revamped Ringaskiddy village centre with a 1.75km shared path stretching from the Port of Cork to Gobby Beach. These projects, supported by the NTA, aim to boost safety, reduce car dependency, and make everyday trips to school, work, or the shops that bit easier on foot or by bike. Read more

Shoppers of Cork, rejoice - Urban Outfitters is setting up shop on Patrick’s Street! Taking over the refurbished space at number 101, the brand is bringing its signature mix of relaxed fashion, lifestyle goodies, and curated vinyl collections to the city centre. The American retailer has been a go-to in Dublin for years, and now it’s Cork’s turn. The private launch party kicks off on September 17th, with doors opening to the public soon after. Read more

There’s a big development coming for families on Cork’s northside. NCE Little Hands, a trusted childcare provider with more than three decades of experience, is opening a second centre in Churchfield. Works start mid-October, with the new facility set to open in stages from early 2026. Read more

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things I thought you should know. I'll always let you know if something's sponsored.

Today: 🌤️ 20°/14°
Wednesday: 🌤️ 17°/11°
Thursday: 🌤️ 14°/10°

🎬 Christy (15A)
Triskel Arts Centre
Multiple Dates | 8:00 PM | More Info


🎬 Sanatorium (15A)
Triskel Arts Centre
Multiple Dates | 6:00 PM | More Info


😂 Comedy Cavern: Ross O'Donaghue & Guests
Coughlan's
Tuesday 9th Sep | 20:30 | More Info


🍽️ Flavour and Flair
The Montenotte
Wednesday 10th Sep | 18:30 | More Info


🤣 Stand-up Comedy Club: Low-key Funny
The Roundy
Wednesday 10th Sep | 20:30 | More Info


🤣 Comedy Cavern: Tony Cantwell Fringe Preview
Coughlan's
Wednesday 10th Sep | 18:30 | More Info


💃 Ceilí Cois Locha
The Lough, Glasheen, Cork
Wednesday, September 10th | 7:30 PM | More Info


🪗 Ceili By The Lee
Crane Lane Theatre
Wednesday, September 10th | 7:30 PM | More Info


😂 Stand-up Comedy Club: Thursday Showcase
The Roundy
Thursday, September 11th | 8:30 pm | More Info


😂 An Spailpin Comedy Launch Night with Alfie Brown & Guests
An Spailpín Fánach
Thursday 11th Sep | 20:00 | More Info


🎪 Circus Vegas
The Marquee, Cork City
Mutliple Dates | 17:00 | More Info


🚜 Mahon Point Farmers Market
Mahon Point Shopping Centre
Every Thursday | 10AM - 2PM | More Info


🎸 Rory Gallagher: 'The Continental Op' - The Global Musician
Cork Public Museum, Fitzgeralds Park
Multiple Dates | More Info


🖼️ Maitiú Mac Cárthaigh: Residency & Exhibition
Triskel Arts Centre
Multiple Dates | More Info

🎵 The Lee Sessions Trad Trail
Multiple Locations
Multiple Dates | 6:30 pm | More Info


🎤 Ziggy Alberts
Cyprus Avenue
Tuesday, September 9th | 7:00 PM | More Info


🎸 Ricky Kelleher
Seventy Seven, Cork City
Tuesday, 9th September | 19:00 | More Info


🍀 Trad Music
The Blue Haven, Kinsale
Tuesday, 9th September | 20:30 | More Info


🎻 Folk Night
El Fenix
Tuesday, 9th September | 21:00 | More Info


🎻 Martin Hayes with Cormac McCarthy & Special Guests
Cork Opera House
Wed 10th Sep, 20:00 | More Info


🔥 Fireside Folk
The Welcome Inn
Wednesday, 10th September | 21:30 | More Info


🎶 Traditional Irish Music & Dancing
Old Oak, Oliver Plunkett St.
Every Wednesday | 8:00 PM | More Info


💃 Tides Of Tradition
Actons, Kinsale
Every Wednesday | 7:00 PM | More Info


🎶 SFSH - Remembering Talos
Cork City
Thu 11th Sep | More Info


🎸 The Tan Jackets
Crane Lane Theatre
Thu 11th Sep, 23:30 | More Info


🎶 Cops and Robert
Dwyers Of Cork
Thu 11th Sep, 22:00 | More Info


🎧 Bantum X Arveene
The Pavillion
Thu 11th Sep, 22:30 | More Info


🎤 Seán Long
El Fenix
Thu 11th Sep, 21:00 | More Info


🎙️ Amy Winehouse Experience
Cyprus Avenue
Thu 11th Sep, 19:00 | More Info


🎷 115 Jazz Jam Sessions
115 Café And Wine Bar
Every Thurday | 20:00 | More Info


🪕 The 2 Drops
Old Oak
Thursday, 11th September | 20:00 | More Info


🎶 Ballads & Banjos
The Welcome Inn
Thursday, 11th September | 21:30 | More Info


🎶 The Insiders
Cantys
Every Thursday | 9:00 PM | More Info

That's it for today Cork, thanks for reading! Let’s chat again on Thursday!

Thanks!

- Ben 🙂