Cork Airport Expects 58,000 Passengers for Jazz Weekend

Cork Airport is expecting 58,000 passengers over the October Bank Holiday weekend, with tens of thousands of festival-goers arriving for the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. The busiest day of the weekend for arriving passengers will be tomorrow (Friday), 23 October.

Now in its 48th year, the festival is the biggest music event on Cork’s cultural calendar. Live jazz performances will take place in the airport terminal over the weekend as part of “The Big Fringe”, with Manic Jazz Preachers on Friday 23 October from 13:30 to 15:35, TBL8 Brass on Saturday 24 October from 10:00 to 11:30, and Rebel Brass on Sunday 25 October from 10:00 to 11:30.

Over 500 performers will take to the stage in 80 different venues. This year’s festival is headlined by artists including Berlioz, Yussef Dayes, Boney M feat. Maizie Williams, Annie Mac and Kororoko. Free jazz events will also take place throughout the city and suburbs as part of “The Big Fringe”, including music at Cork City Library; the Oliver Plunkett Street Stroll; Beat on the Street; Jazz in the Fort (Elizabeth Fort); the Jazz Market on Patrick Street; the Jazz Gospel Service in St. Anne’s Church, Shandon; and the Jazz Bus.

Cork Airport is the international gateway to the festival, which is now worth upwards of €45 million to the Cork economy. The festival is sponsored by Diageo, along with Cork City Council, Fáilte Ireland and Cork Airport. The airport’s partnership is through support from its Community Fund.

Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director, Cork Airport:

“This weekend is one of the highlights of the year for us all here at the airport. We are thrilled to be proud festival partner of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival once again. It’s an event that brings so much to our city and county, with some of the world’s most talented jazz performers, the craic around the city streets, and a great boost to the local economy. And of course, our passengers will get to sample “the jazz” as soon as they touch down at Cork Airport over the coming days!”

Fiona Collins, Chair, Guinness Cork Jazz Festival:

“As the international gateway to the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, the airport plays such a vital role in bringing so many visitors and festival-goers to our city and region this weekend. We’re very proud of our longstanding partnership with Cork Airport and we look forward to welcoming the many visitors that will be touching down for another exceptional ‘jazz weekend’.”

Passengers travelling this weekend are advised to arrive at Cork Airport 90 minutes before their flight is due to depart. Those flying on Sunday 25 October are advised to be mindful of the time change, as the clocks fall back one hour on Sunday morning.