Saturday, September 19, 2015
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Business groups in merger divide CORK: CITY OF LIGHTS ON CULTURE NIGHT Barrie O’Connell, Cork Lawrence Owens, Cork Business Association. Chamber. ■ David Linnane
TENSIONS are rising between the city’s Chamber and Business Association over the proposed controversial merger of Cork’s city and county councils.
Hundreds of families gathered on Union Quay last night as Cork Ignite brought College of Commerce to life on Culture Night. Pictured inset is one of the images projected on to the building. Picture Clare Keogh ■ Audrey Ellard Walsh
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UNION Quay was the place to be last night as Culture Night drew huge crowds to see the College of Commerce illuminated with a variety of projections. Cork Ignite, a 3D animation project by artist Simon
McKeown, was arguably one of the highlights of the annual night, with hundreds of families watching as the façade of Cork’s College of Commerce was lit up with different images. Simon McKeown collaborated with Cork-based disability groups for this commission by Cork City Council with partners, The Arts
Council and Arts and Disability Ireland. The event was one of three taking place around the country with Galway City and County Councils and Mayo County Council supporting sister events. ■ Culture Night was another huge success in Cork - See page 2 for more.
The CBA favour an extension of the current boundary, while the Chamber are for the merger. In a statement yesterday the Chamber said views expressed on the merger were “unbalanced” and ignored the benefits of a unified council. Chamber President Barrie O’Connell said: “It is frustrating from a business perspective that much of the public commentary expressed by adversaries to unification has failed to mention or allude to any of the plethora of benefits associated with unification such as enhanced economic development, jobs growth, faster and more efficient decision making.” However, the CBA hit back, with a strong response, criticising the Chamber for its language, and for not engaging in further research. ■ Continued on page 2.