‘Our Table’ is set to be one of the highlights of Cork Midsummer Festival 2015

Cork’s city centre is to host a one-off outdoor banquet for 400 people as part of this summer’s Cork Midsummer Festival in June, as a result of a unique collaboration among the city’s businesses and restaurants. An initiative of the Cork City Centre Forum, which was established last September to drive footfall and business activity in Cork, and supported by Cork City Council, Our Table will see one of the city’s main thoroughfares, Oliver Plunkett Street, transformed into an outdoor dining room for one evening.

Our Table takes place from 6.30pm to 9pm on Sunday, 14^th June and sees 12 of Cork’s best loved restaurants come together to serve a three course dinner on a table stretching from the GPO to the Grand Parade, amid a host of entertainment from street performers and musicians. Participating restaurants include Jacques, Les Gourmandises, Market Lane, Idaho, House, Orso, Dashi, Isaacs, Nash 19, Rocket Man, The Farmgate and Iago.

The Cork City Centre Forum was established by Cork Chamber and is made up of retailers and business owners from across the city, as well as Cork City Council, An Garda Síochána, and Cork Business Association (CBA). Its aim is to identify and advance new and innovative opportunities to drive footfall and business in the city centre.

Speaking about Our Table, Gillian Keating, Chairperson of the City Centre Forum, said:

“We are thrilled to bring this event right to the heart of Cork city on Oliver Plunkett Street during the Cork Midsummer Festival. Our Table is just one of the many initiatives that the City Centre Forum are working on to drive footfall and business activity in Cork.

“This event demonstrates what can be achieved through collaborative efforts and commitment from the business community that we are so proud of in Cork. I especially want to thank Jack Crotty and Conrad Howard for bringing this idea forward, and their work to deliver what is sure to be a spectacular event.”

Speaking about the event, Kath Gorman, Curator of the Cork Midsummer Festival, said:

“This is the first event of its kind in the Midsummer Festival, and it is set to be a great celebration of Cork’s renowned selection of restaurants. Cork is gaining a fantastic reputation for being one of the great culinary hotspots in Ireland, and Our Table is a unique way to showcase them. All are welcome to this one-off event on Sunday, 14^th June, which is set to be one of the many great highlights of this year’s exciting Midsummer programme.”

Our Table is sponsored by BAM Ireland and John Cleary Developments and is supported and facilitated by Cork City Council.

Speaking on behalf of BAM Ireland, Theo Cullinane said:

“Cork city’s Our Table dinner is an innovative and unique event set in the middle of our city centre’s beautiful streets and showcasing the quality of Cork’s food offering. We at BAM Ireland congratulate the creativity of the Cork business community and are proud to provide our support to make the event a success.”

A spokesperson from John Cleary Developments added:

“JCD are delighted to be supporting Cork City’s Our Table dinner, which strengthens our belief in Cork city as a vibrant, innovative place to live and do business.”

Anne O’Doherty, CEO of Cork City Council, said:

“Cork City Council is delighted to be supporting Cork city’s Our Table dinner. The event is a perfect example of how collaboration between stakeholders can deliver an innovative and unique event. This event showcases the vibrancy and creativity that Cork city centre restaurants offer.”

Book your place at Our Table at www.corkmidsummer.com/programme/event/our-table. Tickets cost €45 plus booking fee. Price includes a three course meal and pre-dinner drink. Guests are asked to wear white to the event.

Our Table is an outdoor event and subject to weather. In the event of anticipated poor weather, ticket holders will be alerted by email 24 hours in advance of the event and the event will be re-scheduled for Sunday 28th June. If the event is again cancelled due to poor weather, tickets will be reimbursed less the booking fee.