IF the Ryanair proposals get approval we will be depending on an British Airways and Flybe to provide meaningful competition at Cork Airport. That would be funny if it wasn't so serious. The former took over Cambrian Airways, Brymon, Manx Airways and City Flyer Express at various times in the past. By Co-incidence each of those carriers had been operating various UK routes into Cork at the time of their takeover. BA promptly withdrew from Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol, Plymouth and Newcastle although they did operate to London Heathrow for many years untill the early 1990's. Over the last decade they've shown no interest in the Irish Market North or South untill their surprise re-entry on LHR DUB last summer.
Flybe's brand recognition in the Republic is very limited and it's hard to see them competing with Ryanair for any length of time. I can't see any prospect of competition from Cork to Lanzarote, Teneriffe, Las Palmas, Barcelona, Alicante, Malaga, Palma or Faro. These are all served by both EI and FR at the moment. In fact I doubt if Flybe aircraft have the range to fly to the Canaries.