Ahead of the June Bank Holiday weekend, The Port of Cork plans to fence off sections of its city centre quays to prevent large public gatherings.
They explained that the decision was made in the interest of public safety as well as its commercial shipping traffic as the quays are in operation 24/7.
This decision comes after a meeting in response to recent large public gatherings in the area, particularly along Albert Quay and Kennedy Quay. Gardaí have moved people along on multiple occasions recently but last weekend, a cleaning operation was underway after more gatherings.
The Port of Cork said in a statement to The Irish Examiner: “The Port of Cork utilise the city quays predominately for dry or breakbulk cargo, and when a ship is operating there are cranes in operation and trucks entering and exiting the area, so it can be very busy.”
They added, “The Port of Cork would like to remind the public that the City Quays is a 24/7 working Port area with commercial ships, plant and other equipment and HGV traffic in operation. The public are advised not to congregate in this area.”
There has been a heated nationwide discussion lately about such gatherings after footage emerged online of large gatherings happening across the country.
On Sunday, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan expressed his ‘shock’ at the large gatherings he witnessed in Dublin during the weekend. In a tweet, he said:
“Drove into Dublin City Centre to collect someone from work at 815 PM. Absolutely shocked at scenes in South Great George’s St, Exchequer St, South William St area. Enormous crowds- like a major open-air party. This is what we do not need when we have made so much progress.”
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