Cork City Lights Up International Recognition with Purple Flag Success

Cork city has secured prestigious Purple Flag accreditation, recognising excellence in its evening and night-time economy through innovative initiatives including the popular 'Leave the Light On' campaign and new 'Coffee House Lates' scheme.

The international Purple Flag award, similar to Blue Flag recognition for beaches, celebrates towns and cities that provide safe, vibrant and diverse night-time environments between 5pm and 5am. Cork's successful application highlighted creative approaches to boosting the city centre after dark, proving that the Rebel County knows how to keep the good times rolling well into the night.

Cork City Council's Night Time Economy Strategy has driven several groundbreaking initiatives that caught the attention of international assessors. The 'Leave the Light On' campaign, a partnership with the Cork Business Association, encouraged city centre businesses to keep their lights on until midnight or 1am during winter months from mid-October 2024 to mid-January 2025, creating a safer and more welcoming atmosphere for evening visitors. The campaign will run again this year.

The innovative 'Coffee House Lates' scheme launched last November has transformed the city's evening landscape by encouraging independent coffee shops to extend trading hours and host diverse events. From coffee tastings and live music to comedy nights, art exhibitions, dancing, festive shopping, festive treats and even knitting sessions, these venues have created alcohol-free alternatives that appeal to a broader range of residents and visitors.

Cork's commitment to creative nightlife was further demonstrated through unusual initiatives such as hosting concerts on public car park rooftops, showing that the city isn't afraid to think outside the box when it comes to entertainment.

Fiona Collins, Cork city's Night Time Economy advisor, emphasised the ongoing commitment to improvement:

"The Purple Flag accreditation is another indicator in the city's journey to becoming a truly 24-hour destination. It allows us to set a standard with other night-time cities."

Collins added:

"With the introduction of the night-time strategy, Cork has extended its vibrant mix of culture, safety, and innovation, from family-friendly early evenings to creative late-night events like our rooftop concerts. The businesses together with key stakeholders such as Cork City Council, An Garda Síochána, Cork Chamber and Cork Business Association continue to work hard to ensure that it remains a city comparable with the best across Europe and the world."

The Purple Flag achievement coincides with council chief executive Valerie O'Sullivan's plans for enhanced city centre focus, including the creation of a City Centre Development and Operations Directorate in February 2025. This new structure, described as "a start-up business within the council", will concentrate on revitalisation, regeneration and accessibility with an overarching vision of enhancing the city as a socially, culturally and economically vibrant second city.

Cork previously secured its first Purple Flag in 2015. The continuation of the NTE advisor role until September 2026 ensures sustained focus on maintaining and improving the city's evening offerings.

The Purple Flag is awarded by the Association of Town and City Management and requires annual renewal through ongoing collaboration between local stakeholders. Only 90 destinations worldwide hold this accreditation, spanning locations from world-renowned tourist destinations to small market towns across the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Malta, New Zealand and Australia.

For Cork residents and visitors, this recognition represents more than an award: it's validation that the city offers a safe, diverse and engaging environment for evening entertainment that rivals the best destinations internationally.

Cork city proves that good craic doesn't need to end when the sun goes down, earning international recognition for keeping the lights on and the community buzzing.