Category Archives: Landscapes

Pictures: Beaumont Park, Cork, 8 December 2020

December 8, 2020Improve Your Life, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, S.E. Ward Local History, Uncategorizedadmin

Beaumont Park, Cork, 8 December 2020 (picture: Cllr Kieran McCarthy)

RTE Radio 1 Interview with Kieran on The Burning of Cork 1920, 5 December 1920

December 6, 2020Cork City Events, Cork History, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, Uncategorizedadmin

5 December 2020, “This week coming marks 100 years since the Burning of Cork. The Black and Tans destroyed homes, dozens of businesses and buildings. To take a look at this a bit more we’re joined by a local Cork historian Cllr Kieran McCarthy”, The Burning of Cork, 1920, The Business (rte.ie)

Title page from Who Burnt Cork City, 1921 (source: Cork City Library)

Cllr McCarthy Welcomes Douglas Village Parklet

December 5, 2020Arts, Cork City Events, Enterprise, Improve Your Life, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, Uncategorized, Ward Development, Ward Eventsadmin

Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has welcomed the positive news that Douglas Village is to receive its first parklet. The National Transport Authority (NTA) provided Cork City Council stimulus funding to implement a suite of initiatives to support mobility across the city. This included the provision of 10 parklets to enhance greening of the city and to improve the attractiveness of the city to pedestrians. Partners in businesses and communities were sought to maintain and manage the parklets.

Cllr McCarthy noted: “A public call was issued to communities and businesses and as a result the parklet initiative was significantly oversubscribed, which highlights the enthusiasm of residents, businesses and communities to see greening projects of this nature in the city. In line with the objectives of the stimulus, prioritised areas in the city centre and villages / towns throughout the Council’s administrative area were chosen.

“An assessment of the suitability of areas was conducted to accommodate parklets, in terms of health and safety and access to essential services. Ten parklet sites with partners were chosen. All parklets must encourage a pollinator friendly approach. The Douglas Village Parklet will be managed by Douglas Tidy Towns who have an excellent track record in the roll out of community biodiversity programmes”.

“Cork City Council also engaged with Benchspace, a social enterprise, to deliver the timber-clad parklets. The parklets, which occupy a traditional car space, will be installed over the next number of weeks/months as they are available from Benchspace”.

“The parklets are installations in the midst of busy streets with the focus on important issues such as the environment and biodiversity. They also offer people an alternative place to sit down for a few minutes and to reflect on their day or to meet friends”, concluded Cllr Kieran McCarthy.

Cllr Kieran McCarthy: Work in Garryduff Woods on Track

November 24, 2020Improve Your Life, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, Uncategorized, Ward Developmentadmin

Press Release:

Cllr Kieran McCarthy has welcomed that Garryduff Woods is fully open to the public again. This followed a series of works by the wood’s manager, An Coillte. It was agreed earlier this year with the local community that the next step was to replant the area with broadleafs. The programme of works already completed included hedge cutting, tree surgery and road maintenance prior to the felling, the felling itself, ground cultivation and timber haulage.
The site is now prepared for planting which is planned to take place in quarter one of 2021 when plants are available.

The site does not need to be closed for this operation as it is manual work only and no heavy machinery will be required. The replanting will consist of the following species – Oak (2 hectares), Birch (2 hectares), Scots Pine (1.4 hectare), Norway Spruce (1 hectare). The Oak, Birch and Scots Pine will be planted, mixed at a ‘stocking rate’ of 3,300 stems per hectare for the oak and birch and 2,500 stems per hectare for the Scots Pine. Norway Spruce to be planted in small groups throughout the site at 2,500 stems per hectare.

This site will be managed primarily for biodiversity values and a critical element of this is will be future interventions that will form part of the overall biodiversity management plan. Such interventions are necessary for the maintenance and enhancement of the biodiversity values for e.g. light thinnings to favour Oak, which will be done manually.

The Norway Spruce cones are favoured by red squirrels due to the soft cones that it produces. The cones produced by the Scots Pine will also add to the diversity of food source for red squirrels on site. This new replanting will also allow for the staggering of age-classes should help the red squirrel and the biodiversity value of the site.

Cllr McCarthy noted: “Since the boundary extension last year, Cork City has inherited this very beautiful 26-hectare forest amenity managed by An Coillte. It is a site I am rediscovering over the past year especially from a historical perspective of the Old Court estate and the Civil War Battle of Douglas in 1922, which was held across the woods. Plus I have been vocal many times in the Council Chamber that the City Council needs an effective urban forestry management strategy within the city area. Such a strategy should also connect to other entities such as An Coillte for cross collaborative work”.

Pictures, The Marina, Cork, 20 November 2020

November 20, 2020Cork History, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, S.E. Ward Local History, Uncategorizedadmin

The Marina, Cork, November 2020 (picture: Cllr Kieran McCarthy)

Douglas Community Park, Early November 2020

November 14, 2020Cork City Events, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, S.E. Ward Local History, Uncategorized, Ward Eventsadmin

Pictures, Autumn on Boreenmanna Road, Cork, 2020

November 2, 2020Improve Your Life, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, Uncategorizedadmin

Cllr Kieran McCarthy: Tanora-Linked 1779 Archway Deserves More Space, 28 October 2020

October 28, 2020Cork History, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, Uncategorizedadmin

1779 Archway, Kyrl's Quay, Cork 2020 (picture: Cllr Kieran McCarthy) — 1779 Archway, Kyrl’s Quay, Cork 2020 (picture: Cllr Kieran McCarthy)

Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has asked that a historic archway belonging to one of Cork’s oldest firms be removed from its hidden corner and get more public prominence in the public realm to reflect its stature, history and design. The 1779 archway was once part of the entrance door to one of Cork’s oldest firms John Daly & Co Mineral Water Manufacturers on Kyrl’s Quay.

Cllr McCarthy noted: “The year 1779 was the foundation of their company. The archway may not date to 1779 but may have been a later addition to the company’s premises celebrating its earlier origins. In 1991-3 as part of the development of North Main Street Shopping Centre the archway was placed at the back of an apartment block built next to it. It now lys in the public realm of Cork City Council.

“In 1915, John Daly and Co. were also the original creators of the well-known Tanora brand. At that time, Temperance groups lobbied manufacturers of Lemonade such as John Daly’s to produce another popular non-alcoholic drink. Tanora was created through the importation of tangerine oranges”.

“Fifty years ago, Daly’s owned Kyrl’s Quay Bonded Warehouses and the Victoria Hotel in Cork. Five decades ago Daly’s also bought the total issued share capital of Coca Cola Bottling (Dublin). They had the Coca Cola franchise for Munster which gave Daly’s extensive interests in the Irish market for soft drinks. However, it was a Munster Coca Cola bottling company that eventually bought out the company”.

Cllr Kieran McCarthy continued: “The archway is certainly a beautiful creation and deserves a more visual presence in the public realm. It is a real shame to see bins and rubbish piled high against it daily. It is in a very narrow and hidden corner, which doesn’t do its elaborateness any justice.

In a report to Cllr McCarthy at the recent South Central Local Area Committee, the City Council’s Conservation Officer proposes to prepare a report for the next meeting which will examine the history and background to the siting of the doorcase in this location and make recommendations following an assessment of the implications of re-locating it, including the identification of suitable types of sites. Once Councillors have an opportunity to decide on the most appropriate action for the protection and enhancement of the doorcase, they will liaise with the relevant operational sections of the City Council to progress the matter.