Even the rain didn’t dampen spirits.

Businesses in the city are celebrating a whopper weekend after the 45th Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, with huge numbers attending, packing out the streets and stages of Cork City and beyond.

The festival delivered approximately 100,000 visitors to Cork City over the five days, giving a much-needed local spending boost, which is estimated at €45 million, as music fans braved the city floods and soggy weather to enjoy packed-out shows from Macy Gray, Morcheeba. Corinne Bailey Rae, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, and jazz greats like Matthew Halsall, Adam Ben Ezra, Gilles Peterson, and Kurt Elling.

Publican Philip Gillivan of The Shelbourne Bar, one of the main pubs on the Music Trail said this year’s event was a triumph:

“Jazz 23 has surpassed all others and that is saying a lot as 22 was amazing,” he said.

“The crowds were up, the spend was up and there was an amazing atmosphere in The Shelbourne and the VQ for the weekend.”

Mark Murphy, festival director, who is working with Guinness to bring the festival on par with the best jazz and music festivals in Europe, said the team made the right call to add an extra date and 40 percent more shows across the city over the weekend.

“Most of the events sold out and the feedback has been incredible,” he said.

Not only did the pubs, clubs, hotels, and venues benefit, but there was a knock-on effect throughout the city:  “It was our best weekend since last Christmas,” said Claire Nash from Nash19.