What have Big Ben, the Empire State building and the Eiffel Tower got in common? They’re all pretty tall and they all feature on the hoarding of Ireland’s latest high rise building, The Elysian, in Cork city centre.

Developers O’Flynn Construction have been keeping a tight wrap on the 17-storey project, which is now complete with 211 apartments ready to go along with shops and offices. A team of London interior decorators has been busy creating show units that are set to annihilate Cork at a lavish launch planned for the middle of September. Meanwhile teaser advertisements have begun to trickle out to whet the appetite but so far no prices have been set for the apartments which range from roomy one-beds to vast master-of-the-universe penthouses.

The timing may not be the best, but no doubt AIB, which is backing Elysian, will be encouraging its high net worth clients to invest in the high life.