History of Keep Cork meeting - Cork Convention Bureau

Over the past seven years Keep Cork Meeting has grown into Cork’s largest meetings and events expo with over 200 attendees and 40 exhibitors in 2019. Keep Cork Meeting aims to encourage more conferences, meetings and events in to Cork, and gives hotels and other tourism service providers locally the opportunity to showcase their offering to the corporate market.

Sadly, in March of 2020 the Cork Convention Bureau took the decision to postpone Keep Cork Meeting 2020 until a later date when the event can be held safely and deliver the same personal interaction of previous additions.

Even though we’ve had to postpone Keep Cork Meeting for now, we are still here to assist in planning meetings, events and conferences for future years and if you would like to get in touch, we would love to hear from you by emailing info@corkconventionbureau.com

In the meantime, please enjoy a quick look back through the fun and festivities at previous Keep Cork Meetings:

2019

In 2019, Keep Cork Meeting returned to Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the second year in a row for its 7th annual business tourism showcase. At the event attendees got to experience the very best of Cork’s business tourism offering, including accommodation options, unique Cork venues, food and drink options, activities and interactive experiences, as well as advice from Event Management experts in attendance.

Aisling Claffy and Niamh McCarthy, Páirc Uí Chaoimh Meeting & Events; Claire Myler, the River Lee Hotel; Evelyn O’Sullivan, Head of Cork Convention Bureau; Kylie Basnett, Trigon Hotels; Margaret O’Regan, Event Plan; Fiona O ’Donoghue, Carrigaline Court; Steve Cox, Rochestown Park Hotel; Donna Mannion, Clayton Cork City Hotel; and Anne Cahill, Cork Convention Bureau pictured at Keep Cork Meeting 2019 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

James Foley, Beyond the Glass Adventure Tours, Marie O’Donovan, Chattyboo Productions, Cork City Lord Mayor, Cllr. Mick Finn and Seamus Heaney, Head of Pure Cork pictured at Keep Cork Meeting 2019 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

Tom Williams, Niamh McCarthy, Iain Flynn, Simon Tiptaft and Aisling Claffy from Páirc Uí Chaoimh Meeting & Events Team pictured at Keep Cork Meeting 2019 (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

MC Jonathan Healy pictured at Keep Cork Meeting 2019 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

2018

In 2018, Keep Cork Meeting was first held in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The theme of this event was ‘What’s new in Cork’ highlighting the new venues, conference facilities and meeting spaces that are on offer in Cork as well as encouraging new ideas on how to market Cork as a business tourism destination. The format of the event was slightly changed this year also, moving to a morning event, which was very well received by attendees. For a timelapse of the event click here: KCM2018Timelapse

Danielle Healy, Imperial Hotel, Cork Lord Mayor, Cllr. Tony Fitzgerald, Seamus Heaney, Cork Convention Bureau, Roisin Gaffney, Meet in Ireland and Kevin Cullinane, Cork Airport at Cork Convention Bureau’s sixth annual Keep Cork Meeting Event, which was held in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

Niamh McCarthy, Pairc Uí Chaoimh, DMCs Katia Kudriashova, Event Partners; Meggan McGoldrick, Aspects of Ireland; Armando Borgatta, A Touch of Ireland; Sara Hosford, Custom Ireland; Fiona O’Brien, Joe O’Reilly Ireland and Evelyn O’Sullivan, Cork Convention Bureau pictured at Cork Convention Bureau’s sixth annual Keep Cork Meeting Event, which was held in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

Niamh McCarthy, Pairc Uí Caoimh Events, Kevin Cullinane, Cork Airport, Patrick Doyle, Pairc Uí Caoimh Events, Seamus Heaney, Cork Convention Bureau and Cork Lord Mayor, Cllr. Tony Fitzgerald at Cork Convention Bureau’s sixth annual Keep Cork Meeting Event, which was held in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

2017

In 2017, Keep Cork Meeting was held in Devere Hall, UCC. Attendees got to enjoy a glass of wine and some tasty bites, while learning about the business tourism offering from 40 of Cork’s best hotels, venues and activity providers.

Keep Cork Meeting 2017 in Devere Hall, UCC. Photo Joleen Cronin

Pictured at Keep Cork Meeting 2017 in Devere Hall, UCC were Seamus Heaney, CCB Executive Chairman and Monica Gilmore, Charleville Park Hotel (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

2016

In 2016, Keep Cork Meeting was held in Cork County Hall. This event brought together over 150 meeting and conference organisers from a broad variety of Cork companies including Abtran, EMC, Stryker, Boston Scientific, Eli Lilly and Pepsico. Also, in attendance were Cork Conference Ambassadors, who are integral components of Cork’s success as a business tourism destination. The event presented unique interactive experiences from spa treatments to cocktail making and dance offs!

Brendan Canty, Lee Sessions; Ciara Gallagher, Meet in Ireland; Steve Cox, Cork Convention Bureau; Olivia McCabe, Carrigaline Court Hotel and Liam Hallahan, Cork International Hotel at #KeepCorkMeeting (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

Breda Larkin and Pauline O’Driscoll of TeamBuild.ie at #KeepCorkMeeting (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

#KeepCorkMeeting Business Tourism Showcase 2016 in Cork County Hall. Photo Joleen Cronin

2015

In 2015, Keep Cork Meeting was held in Cork City Hall. With each of the forty exhibitors showcasing a unique product offering or activity, it was a great opportunity for businesses and organisations in Cork to sample the best of Cork’s Business tourism product and lesser known activities all under one roof.

Noelle O’Regan, Cork Ghost Tour, Darragh Brady, Chairperson Irish Hotel Federation, Cork Branch, Seamus Heaney, Chairperson Cork Convention Bureau, Damien Punch of Cork Ghost Tour and Victor O’Flynn of the Bennett’s Court Experience, Cuskinny, Cobh at #KeepCorkMeeting Business Tourism Showcase in Cork City Hall (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

Nick Nugent, Deputy Mayor, Greg Cavew, Abbey Conferences, Conor Dwane, Blue Haven, Chris O’Leary Cork City Lord Mayor and Ray Kelleher of the Clarion Hotel at Cork Convention Bureau’s annual business tourism showcase event #KeepCorkMeeting in Cork City Hall (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

Anna Marie Fagen of Excellent Choice Catering at Cork Convention Bureau’s annual business tourism showcase event #KeepCorkMeeting in Cork City Hall (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

Sean Devereux of TeamBuild.ie at Cork Convention Bureau’s annual business tourism showcase event #KeepCorkMeeting in Cork City Hall (info correct at time of event). Photo Joleen Cronin

2014

In 2014, the second Keep Cork Meeting was held in the unique venue of Cork City Gaol. CCB played host to over 120 guests from a wide selection of Cork companies such as EMC, Stryker, Merck Sharp & Dohme and Pepsico, while University College Cork and a range of other organisations were also represented.

2013

In 2013, the English Market was the venue for the inaugural Keep Cork Meeting. Over 30 hotels, venues and activity providers from Cork showcased their offering on the night, while Cork Opera House wowed all with a short improvisation act. The main focus of the evening was to highlight Cork’s impressive and unique offering and its ability to successfully host international conferences and events. The English Market was a very fitting venue for such an evening with Cork’s renowned food product being a key selling point to encourage more events into the region and to distinguish it from other destinations.