THE search is on for Cork’s best buildings and shop fronts.
The Cork Business Association (CBA) and Cork City Council have officially launched this year’s Cork Better Building Awards, which are run in association with the Evening Echo and RedFM.
The awards honour the best-designed and best-kept buildings in Cork City and suburbs, and are aimed at rewarding businesses and building caretakers for their efforts to protect, enhance and improve the city’s street scape.
Cathy Lawson, Brown Thomas Display Artist and Hilda Hennessy, Brown Thomas Display Manager at the launch of the Cork Better Buildings Awards. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
This will enhance public perception of the city as a vibrant and dynamic place to live, visit, invest and do business in.
The awards will be presented by architect Hugh Wallace, from RTÉ’s Home of the Year, and the Lord Mayor Councillor Chris O’Leary, at a special lunch in the five star Hayfield Manor Hotel in November.
Every business, heritage building owner, architect, conservation project and tourism facility in the greater Cork area is invited to enter the prestigious awards.
Last year’s winners included Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Electric, The Gresham Metropole, The Cornstore, Frank Nolan Butchers, Brown Thomas, The River Lee Hotel and City Gate Park Mahon.
The categories for the awards are: Best in Retail, Best in Heritage & Conservation, Best in Café / Restaurant, Best in Pub Front, Best in Commercial Business Frontage (excl. retail), Best in Tourism, Arts & Accommodation, Best New Development and the People’s Choice award.
Ann Doherty, Chief Executive of Cork City Council, said the efforts of many property owners to maintain and develop their premises should be acknowledged and rewarded.
“We need to keep the offering up and highlight Cork as a fantastic place to shop, work and live,” she said.
To nominate a Cork building fill out an application form on the website www.corkbusiness.ie or call 021 4278295 and a form can be posted out.