Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy will host three events for the upcoming Cork Harbour Festival. Two of the events focus on the rich history of the city’s bridges and the third focuses in on the history and sense of place on The Marina. The events and dates are as follows:
– Bridges of Cork, Online Talk by Kieran, Tuesday 8 June 2021, 7.30pm-8.30pm, FREE:
This zoom presentation explores the general development of the city’s bridges and why they were historically so important and are still so important in connecting the different parts of Cork City together. Details of the link for the talk are available at www.corkharbourfestival.com
– Bridges of Cork, Heritage Treasure Hunt, hosted by Kieran, Saturday 12 June 2021, 1pm, FREE, self-guided walk:
This treasure hunt is all about looking up and around and exploring the heart of Cork City whilst exploring the stories and place of the city centre’s bridges. Suitable for all ages, approx 2hr, with mixed footpaths on city’s quays.Meet Kieran at National Monument, Grand Parade, Cork, between 1pm-1.15pm on Saturday 12 June, to receive the self-guided treasure hunt pack, no booking required. Bring a pen.
– The Marina, Self Guided Audio Trail with Kieran, 4 June 2021 -14 June, FREE:
A stroll down The Marina is popular by many people. The area is particularly characterized by its location on the River Lee and the start of Cork Harbour. Here scenery, historical monuments and living heritage merge to create a rich sense of place. The audio tour will be available here to stream live on your smartphone from 4-14 June 2021. Details of the link for the audio trail are available at www.corkharbourfestival.com
1102a. Haulbowline Dockyard, c.1910 from Cork Harbour Through Time by Kieran McCarthy & Dan Breen.
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 3 June 2021
Journeys to a Truce: Bold Moves and
Round-Ups
One hundred years ago,
military cordons were common place across Cork City Centre. Cappoquin born Michael O’Donoghue was
a final year student in early 1921, who was studying for his Batchelor of
Engineering degree (mechanical and electrical) in UCC. He was Engineer Officer
of the 2nd Battalion, Cork IRA Brigade No.1. Michael in his witness statement to the Bureau
of Military History (WS1741) describes one such round-up from late May
1920.
One Friday early afternoon towards the end of May 1921, Michael was
having his lunch at his accommodation at the Shamrock Hotel when news arrived
that there was a big round-up outside by the military and that the whole Grand Parade
– Oliver Plunkett Street – Princes Street – South Mall was cordoned off. Michael
was afraid of a systematic house to house search, so he collected his bomb
parts, including a couple of empty mills grenade cases, and went downstairs
into the small rear room at the back of the adjoining fruit shop.
Michael
details: “Here, occasionally, customers had a quiet cup of tea or coffee or
maybe ice cream and fruit. Luckily, there was no one present. I deposited my
deadly load in the fire grate, beneath and behind some shrubs and flowers which
were covering up the ugliness of the empty grate. Then I went back upstairs,
finished my lunch, and got some large books which I carried beneath my arm.
Down the stairs with me and out on the street. A military cordon stretched
diagonally across the junction of Old George’s Street and The Parade. An
officer and two sergeants were busy searching all males. A queue of men of
various ages were resignedly awaiting search”.
Michael
dawdled for a few minutes awaiting his turn; then, getting impatient, he went
up boldly to the nearest NCO and presented himself for scrutiny and search. The
officer looked hard at him, felt his pockets and all over his body with his
hands and then asked him where he was going. Michal told him that he was going
back to College preparing for an examination, which was true. He told him to
pass on. In the evening Michael returned to the “Shamrock”. The military were
gone. They had not even visited the digs, so the arnaments in the grate were still
intact. Later he transferred the lot to the custody of Raymond Kennedy,
Battalion Vice Officer-in-Command.
Michael’s
final engineering examination in mechanical and electrical engineering was due
early in June. Mick Crowley, second in command of Tommy Barry’s 3rd Brigade Column,
came along to Cork, met him at the College and asked me to come along to Cork
111 Brigade and help him to reorganise the engineering services of that IRA
brigade.
Michael
eagerly accepted but told him that he would not be available to go to West Cork
until after his June exam, then about to begin. He agreed. Michael describes a
change of heart after the first three papers; “After I had answered the first
three papers it was clear to me that I had not the remotest chance of a pass.
Rather than mess up the rest of the exam. I withdrew and appeared no more that
June in the exam. hall. I wrote home to father and mother explaining how I had
missed doing some of the papers so to prepare them for the disappointment which
they would suffer at not seeing my name in the pass lists for the B.E. degree.
Of course, they knew little of my exclusive preoccupation with IRA operations and
activities and did not realise at all that my own engineering career and
University studies were only a very secondary consideration. I told them, too,
that I was going to a temporary engineering job down in West Cork in Kinsale
and that I might be back home later in the summer to prepare for the autumn
exam”.
In
the same time frame as Michael’s narrative, P J Murphy – a Company Commander of
Fianna Éireann in Cork– the youth division of the IRA – describes a bold
attempt to blow up a destroyer in Haulbowline Dockyardsabout 9.30pm on Wednesday, 1 June. The destroyer was to
act an escort to the sloop HMS Heather, which was carrying prisoners to
Belfast jail. The destroyer was lying in the basin of the dockyard. She was
after test and had steam up in one of the boilers. The charge was placed
between the boilers. The charge went off at 9.30pm and did sufficient damage to
hold up the movement of prisoners. This job was headed by Volunteers from
Passage West with help from some of Cork City’s volunteers. Next morning the
yard was surrounded by Marines and RIC.
P
J, who worked as an apprentice within he dockyard, was an insider. He was arrested
by the RIC and handed over to a Marine Captain. He carried out the search of his
tool kit. PJ details; “I was then brought to the Chief Engineer’s office and interrogated
there as to my movements the evening before. I was released and told to report
again that evening for further investigation. I did not report but got off the
island as fast as I could. My indentures were cancelled by the Lord
Commissioners of the Admiralty”.
P
J also describes in his witness statement that on 11 June 1921, a number of the
Active Service Unit. were arrested in Mrs. Stenson’s public house, Douglas
Street. They included Mick Murphy, Frank Mahony, Jerry O’Brien, C. Cogan and
Jim Fitzgerald. Jim Fitzgerald was wounded; a few escaped, including D. Hegarty.
P J elaborated that in order to fool crown forces as to the importance of their
capture, three RIC barracks were attacked that night – Tuckey Street barracks,
Shandon barracks and Douglas barracks.
Captions:
1102a. Haulbowline
Dockyard, c.1910 from Cork Harbour Through Time by Kieran McCarthy &
Dan Breen.
In a recent reply to a question posed by Cllr Kieran
McCarthy at the mid May City Council meeting, Cork City Council have noted revised
the completion date of phase 1 of Marina Park. Due to Covid 19, delaying
construction works, the completion date is now late August/early September this
year. The revised opening date is late September/early October.
Cllr McCarthy noted: The phase one works comprise the construction of a
new public car park at the Shandon Boat Club end of the Marina, as well as a
new cycle lane and pedestrian walkway – these are all now completed. One can
also see that the installation of perhaps the most eye-catching part of the
project – a noticeable red steel pavilion on the site of, and replicating, the
central hall of the former Munster Agricultural Showgrounds. The sides of the
pavilion will not be enclosed, and there will be possibilities for coffee pods
and outdoor seating and arts and crafts”.
“Another feature will include water jets for children to play in as well
as the provision of public toilets. The
public can now see the sunken lawn areas and the diversion of a watercourse, as
well as new pathways – all of which are taking shape at present. The project is
a e.10m investment into the area, of which nearly came from EU Urban
Sustainable Funds, which are part of the EU’s structural funds and are a
crucial source of funding for cities”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.
1101a. Front cover of Kieran’s new book, Irish International Trading Corporation, Cork, Celebrating 100 Years (2021, IITC).
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 27 May 2021
Journeys to a Truce: The
Irish International Trading Corporation (Cork)
Details on the tit-for-tat violence between
the IRA and Black and Tans during the War of Independence fill vast pages of
Irish history books. However, not much is known on those who were Independence
supporters in Ireland’s cities and regions, but who were also pragmatic and
economically preparing for a Brexit of sorts from the British Empire. The
question of “if we get Independence what do we do next” had not been quite
resolved especially where Britain was also Ireland’s main trading ally.
To resolve such a question in Cork city and
region the creation of Irish International Trading Corporation (Cork) was set
up in 1920 to facilitate international trade, both import and export, for local
businesses. Its story is the subject of my new book, which is published by the present
company, whilst also charting its journey in more modern times.
The company’s origins lay in the ambition of
the Cork Industrial Development Association (IDA),
which was founded in 1903 after the Cork International Exhibition. During the Irish War of
Independence period, the Cork IDA played no small part in formulating schemes
for the economic rehabilitation of the country. Without the cooperation of the
Cork IDA, the Irish Consuls resident at New York, Paris and Brussels would have
been very much restricted in their Consular activities on behalf of the trade
and commerce of Ireland. Important national work was conducted through the
agencies of these Consuls, for which the Cork IDA kept business connections open with.
In 1920 two important
companies are highlighted as closely linked to the work of the Cork IDA – (a)
Messrs Dowdall and Company, Shipping Agents of the Direct Lines to USA and
French ports, and (b) the Irish International Trading Corporation (Cork) Ltd. The
first named company aimed to promote direct trade whilst IITC aspired to build
up business by purchasing from and selling direct to Continental and American
firms. A gentleman’s agreement stood that no goods would be introduced into the
Irish market, which would compete unfairly with the products of Irish
industries.
The
proposal to form the Irish International Trading Corporation (Cork) Ltd for the development of direct trading between
Irish merchants and traders of other countries was generally welcomed by
commercial circles in Cork. The company was in effect a private,
self-help version of what state agencies do to support trade.
On 4 May
1920, the Cork Examiner recorded a preliminary meeting of persons
interested in the company, which was held in the offices of the Cork IDA, under
the Chairmanship of Mr James C Dowdall. Steps were taken to have the prospectus
issued at an early date. Promises of substantial financial support were
forthcoming from those present. The promoters aspired to secure outward as well
as inward cargo for the vessels then running between Cork and the United States
ports, and also for the vessels about to run between Cork and Continental
ports. The company’s temporary offices were at 27 Grand Parade.
Central to the work of the Irish International trading Corporation (Cork) Ltd
was its Company Secretary Liam De Róiste (1882-1959). Liam was an original
member of the Irish Volunteers in Cork. In late 1916 and throughout 1917 Liam
was an important figure to keep the re-organisation of Sinn Féin going in Cork,
especially with Terence MacSwiney and Tomás MacCurtain being imprisoned for
long periods of time during the years 1916-1918. Liam kept the re-organisation
of the party strong, being involved in organising rallies in Cork in late 1917
for Arthur Griffith, Countess Markievicz, and Eamon de Valera. He was elected a Sinn
Féin Councillor for Cork City in January 1920.
The American link for the new
company was Diarmuid J Fawsitt who was born near Blarney Street in Cork’s
northside in 1884. Diarmuid was active in cultural, industrial and nationalist
circles, including the Celtic Literary Society, Sinn Féin, the Gaelic League,
Cork National Theatre Society, and especially with the foundation of the Cork
IDA. During the War of Independence, Arthur Griffith sent Fawsitt to the United
States as consul and trade commissioner of the Irish Republic. He was based in
New York.
With Fawsitt in New York searching for
opportunities, Liam De Róiste as an enthusiastic secretary of the Corporation, a strong chairman was also required to
lead the new company. James Charles Dowdall had a prominent role in
industrial development and was president of the Cork IDA for a time in its
early years. He was educated at the Presentation Brothers
College, Cork, and in Denmark and Sweden. On the death of their uncle, James
and his brother Thomas joined with their cousin, Mr J B O’Mahony, in forming
the now well-known firm of Dowdall O’Mahony and Company Ltd. This company was
based at Union Quay, Cork, with branches at Manchester and Cardiff and
was engaged in the manufacture of butter and margarine.
As
the months passed in 1920 and 1921, the business of Irish International Trading
Corporation (Cork) expanded. By December 1920, an array of import destinations was
in place. Payment were given to Clyde Shipping Company Ltd for freight charges
and the Bank of Ireland for Siemen’s and Company who brought in raisins from
Malaga, Oosthock and Zoon Company, Holland for slated ties, the Lyon and Quin
Company, Prague for chairs, the ZRB Hirdes, Holland for yarn, Verrieries de
Dampremy, Belgium for Glass, Victor Zorn, Berlin for scissors and enamelware,
National Glass Company, Philadelphia, USA for bottles, and baking powder from
the Calumet Baking Powder Company, Chicago, USA as a trial order. Exports from
Cork mainly encompassed butter boxes and egg cases.
Kieran
McCarthy’s new book Irish International
Trading Corporation (Cork), Celebrating 100 Years is a
commission of the company and is now available from the company’s premises on Tramore Road, Cork, or telephone 021 4705800 or
email info@iitc.ie
Captions:
1101a. Front
cover of Kieran’s new book, Irish International
Trading Corporation, Cork, Celebrating 100 Years (2021,
IITC).
1101b. Letter
head for Irish International Trading Corporation (Cork), 1927 (source: Company
Archives)
1101b. Letter head for Irish International Trading Corporation (Cork), 1927 (source: Company Archives)
8 June 2021, 19:30 – 20:30, In association with Cllr Kieran McCarthy.
Cork City’s growth on a swamp is an amazing story. The city possesses a unique character derived from a combination of its plan, topography, built fabric and its location on the lowest crossing point of the river Lee as it meets the tidal estuary and the second largest natural harbour in the world. Indeed, it is also a city that is unique among other cities, it is the only one which has experienced all phases of Irish urban development, from circa 600 AD to the present day. Hence its bridges all date to different times of urban growth and possess different architectural traits. This zoom presentation explores the general development of the city’s bridges and why they were historically so important and are still so important in connecting the different parts of Cork City together.
Daly’s Bridge, AKA Shaky Bridge, present day (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
– Bridges of Cork Treasure Hunt:
12 June 2021, 13:00 – 13:15, In association with Cllr Kieran McCarthy.
They say the best way to get to know a city is to walk it – in Cork you can get lost in narrow streets, marvel at old cobbled lane ways, photograph old street corners, look up beyond the modern shopfronts, gaze at clues from the past, be enthused and at the same time disgusted by a view, smile at interested locals, engage in the forgotten and the remembered, search and connect for something of oneself, thirst in the sense of story-telling – in essence feel the DNA of the place. This treasure hunt is all about looking up and around and exploring the heart of Cork City whilst exploring the stories and place of the city centre’s bridges.
Suitable for all ages, approx. 2hr self-guided walk, mixed footpaths on city’s quays.
FREE, Join: Meet Cllr Kieran McCarthy at National Monument, Grand Parade, Cork, between 13:00-13:15, no booking required. Bring a pen. Self guided heritage treasure hunt.
St Patrick’s Bridge, Cork, present day (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
– The Marina – Self Guided Audio Trail:
4 June 2021 – June 14, 2021, 06:00 – 23:55,In association with Cllr Kieran McCarthy, FREE
A stroll down The Marina is popular by many people. The area is particularly characterized by its location on the River Lee and the start of Cork Harbour. Here scenery, historical monuments and living heritage merge to create a historical tapestry of questions of who developed such a place of ideas. Where not all the answers have survived, The Marina is lucky, unlike other suburbs, that many of its former residents have left archives, autobiographies, census records, diaries, old maps and insights into how the area developed. These give an insight into ways of life and ambitions in the past, some of which can help the researcher in the present day in understanding The Marina’s evolution and sense of place going forward. Take a walk with us and discover more.
Independent
Cllr Kieran McCarthy has called on the City Council and the ESB to work on a
joint programme of works to return the sub-station on Caroline Street to an art
gallery/ cultural space.’
The sub station
on Caroline Street is in the ownership of the ESB. Until recently the Sub
Station was advertised for Commercial Let. Cllr McCarthy has been informed that
Cork City Council does not have sight of the ESB’s plans for the building. And
that the wider needs in terms of cultural infrastructure in the city will be
reviewed in the context of the forthcoming Arts & Culture Strategy, currently
under development.
Cllr McCarthy
noted; “there is massive scope to do a joint partnership in re-opening the disused ESB substation as a cultural space.
It has a very rich industrial history. It was built in 1931 and was originally
used to convert direct current electricity to alternating current. This
substation is representative of the design employed by the ESB in the first
part of the twentieth century in Ireland.
“In 1932, the ESB
could boast cables running from Ardnacrusha Hydro Electric Station to Cork as
well as having the old generating station and offices at Albert Road, a Station
at Kilbarry, a transformer station at Fords, and the central substation in
Caroline Street. The annual consumption of electricity in Cork City was 8
million units by 1934 and 16 million units by 1945”.
“The
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage notes of this building: “This
functional building is a well-articulated building, with a high level of
architectural design. The building retains many interesting original features
and materials, such as the metal casement windows and metal folding doors”.
“It
is also ten years ago when the Triskel Arts Centre, whilst waiting for the
renovation of Christ Church, moved its gallery off site to the ESB
substation on Caroline Street and did a great job in utilising the space. In
addition, in 2018, Brown Thomas teamed up with Cork City Council and artist
Shane O’Driscoll to transform the exterior of the then disused ESB station
building which had fallen into disrepair. The City Centre Placemaking Fund from Cork City Council was
used to support the project”.
“It is a real shame that such a prominent building remains vacant with so many possibilities for its use. I will be continuing my lobbying of the City Council to partner up with the ESB in finding an appropriate cultural use for the building”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.
Press, 25 May 2021, “The abandoned substation has massive scope for transformation now that Cllr. Kieran McCarthy is urging the city council and ESB to turn it into a new entertainment venue for Leesiders. Originally built in 1931 in the art deco style favoured by ESB at the time, the substation was last used by Triskel Arts ten years ago”, Endless possibilities for this gem of a building on Caroline Street to be transformed as council consider new proposal, Derelict Art-deco substation could become amazing Cork city music and arts space – Cork Beo
Caroline Street Former ESB Sub Station, Cork present day (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has welcomed the conclusion of the
Douglas Flood Relief Scheme. “In the past two months, the contractor on the
Douglas Flood Relief Scheme has substantially completed all construction works
on the project. The remaining works consist of some minor snags, fence
installations and completion of final landscaping works”.
“What has emerged are enhanced recreational jewels in the heart of
Douglas Village with a larger focus on connecting The Mangala and Ballybrack
Woods across to Douglas Community Park. The flood prevention measures, which
have incorporated new seating and biodiversity areas and corridors, as well as
creating a stronger visual element upon the adjacent stream are most welcome”.
“It has been great in the past few weeks to see people sitting out
enjoying the new vistas and ultimately embracing an enhanced community space.
Great credit is due to Cork City Council, Arup Engineering and to the OPW. It
has been a long process over eight years from draft plans drawn up in
connection with Cork County Council to implementation under Cork City Council’s
watchful eye. In the past year, the advent of COVID also slowed down construction
work, which required much patience by the people
and businesses of Douglas”.
“There have also been status orange rainfall events in Cork, since the start of the year and the new flood defences in Douglas worked as expected and carried a huge volume of water through the village safely. From observations and experience on site it is believed that had the defences not been constructed, there would have been considerable flooding in the Ravensdale and Church Road area”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.
1110a. Western Road with the Cork-Muskerry Tram, c.1910 from Kieran McCarthy’s and Dan Breen’s Cork City Through Time (2012, Amberley Publishing).
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 20 May 2021
Journeys to a Truce: Stories from the
Active Service Unit
Patrick Murray was Officer-in-Charge of C Company of the
1st Battalion of Cork No.1 IRA Brigade. In his witness statement in
the Bureau of Military History (WS1443) by May 1921, he was a core part of the
Active Service Unit for Cork City. Much of the work of the Unit during this
period comprised patrols, moving materials from place to place and taking arms,
to columns. The assigned intelligence officers were daily seeking information,
which might lead to a successful ambush of Crown forces.
Patrick describes that a number of spies were executed at
this time, and a captured report from the British, sometime around May 1921,
stated that the last of their intelligence officers in the city had been
executed and that they were now without civilian intelligence in the city. This
particular type of work was very severe on the mental health of Seán Twomey,
who was in charge of the Active Service Unit.
About the beginning of May 1921, a special order was
received from IRA divisional headquarters that every effort was to be made by
each unit in the division, to carry out an attack on Saturday, 14 May. The Unit
decided to concentrate upon Captain Campbell Kelly, who was the principal
British intelligence officer in Cork and who had been responsible for the
torture of many IRA volunteers and had been sought by the IRA for over five
months. He frequently travelled in a motor car to Cork Jail off Western Road, and
it had been noticed by the Active Service Unit intelligence officers that
Saturday morning was one of his regular mornings to visit the jail.
It was decided that the Unit would take up duty from
eight o’clock in the morning along the route usually taken by Kelly. Seán Twomey
and Patrick Murray took up position in St Patrick’s Street at about nine
o’clock. Things did not go according to plan as Seán faced a an anxiety attack.
Patrick got him home but during this time, Kelly had gone up to the jail in an
open car and returned from it in an armoured car.
Patrick recalls: “Immediately all members of the A.S.U.
and helpers were concentrated in one or two parts of the city to see if
something could not be done. Late in the evening, the men on duty at the north
side of the city were informed that an R.I.C. patrol had gone down O’Connell
Street, Blackpool. They immediately ran to the attack and threw some bombs,
killing one and wounding three policemen”.
On the morning of 23 May 1921, plans were again made to
ambush Captain Kelly, this time on Washington Street. Two groups from the
Active Service Unit took up positions along the street. An intelligence officer
was placed some fifty yards or so beyond Patrick and another man. Three other
members of the Unit were placed about seventy-five yards below Patrick’s group.
Captain Kelly came from the jail in an open car on this
particular morning and had practically passed the intelligence officer before
he was recognised. Patricks recalls the throwing of the bombs: “When we got the
signal, the car had passed us, and we signalled to the men further down. The
car was going so fast that it was practically past them before they threw the
bombs. One bomb was thrown into the car but failed to explode. The second bomb
hit the hood of the car and rolled on to the roadway. Some shots were also
exchanged, but Kelly escaped”.
Days later Seán Twomey was arrested, subsequently walked
out of the police barracks, and was fired on by soldiers, receiving some six or
eight wounds. Peter Donovan, the new Officer-in-Charge was arrested practically
immediately after his appointment. About a week later, Patrick was appointed as
Officer-in-Charge of the Active Service Unit. For a week or two he tried to re-group
the battalions and replace arrested officers. At that time, everyone in Cork
City who was known to have had any association with the Volunteers had been
arrested, and casualties among the officers were substantial.
After the attack on the patrol at Blackpool, police
patrols became less frequent; in fact, they often did not appear on the streets
for five or six days. The Active Service Unit were patrolling the streets
regularly at this time, and their intelligence officers were constantly engaged
in trying to find out the movements of the police. They noticed that they
congregated outside the different barracks for a short time in the evenings and
decided to attack them outside Tuckey Street and Shandon Street RIC barracks (on
North Abbey Street). To do this, they got two motor cars.
Unfortunately, the driver of the car attacking Tuckey
Street had some trouble with the motor and drove the car to the attack about
two minutes before the agreed time. As a result of this, some thirty or forty
Volunteers, who were leaving their own points to converge on Tuckey Street,
heard the bombs before they were in a position to attack. Patrick was forced to
withdraw his men. Bombs were thrown though at Shandon Street barracks and
Douglas barracks was attacked with gunfire.
Up to this time, the Active Service Unit was equipped
only with revolvers and bombs and operated in the city area only. As a result
of the attacks on patrols and barracks, the movements of the British were
restricted to travelling through the city area in lorries, protected by
armoured cars. With this change of tactics on the part of the British
authorities, it was decided that the Active Service Unit would extend its
operations to the suburbs and country areas.
This article marks the 1100th
article in the Our City, Our Town series. Check out the index to the
series and the new history trails section on my blog, www.corkheritage.ie.
Captions:
1110a. Western Road with the Cork-Muskerry
Tram, c.1910 from Kieran McCarthy’s and Dan Breen’s Cork City Through Time
(2012, Amberley Publishing).
Independent Cllr
Kieran McCarthy has welcomed the good progress on the Old Railway Line Walk
works. Construction has already began on a new access ramp linking the Marina
and the old Railway Line walk.
Cllr
McCarthy noted: “This new access point will benefit pedestrians, cyclists,
people with disabilities and ensure better access to local communities and
visitors. At present, people with disabilities cannot access the greenway
between Pairc Uí Chaoimh and the Mater Private access point”.
“A giant game of ‘Snakes
and Ladders’, which will include ladders and slides, will form part of the
green terraced area surrounding the new access ramp. New seating will
also be incorporated, new lookout points and water drinking facilities. There
will also be extensive soft landscaping works including significant new tree
planting, shrub planting and wildflower meadow planting with native pollinator
friendly species”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.
From 10 May, works
to resurface, widen and install public lighting on the Blackrock Greenway mean
that a section of the amenity between Atlantic Pond and Blackrock Station, will
be temporarily closed. Pedestrians and cyclists will be asked to observe the
diversions in place. These upgrade works are expected to continue for up to 10
weeks.
The Blackrock-Mahon Greenway Improvement
Scheme has been designed to enhance this popular route due to increased usage
by pedestrians and cyclists for recreation and commuting. The works are also to
encourage and prioritise its ongoing development as a green living corridor
with significant health and well-being benefits.
Independent Cllr
Kieran McCarthy has welcomed the good progress on the Old Railway Line Walk
works. Construction has already began on a new access ramp linking the Marina
and the old Railway Line walk.
Cllr
McCarthy noted: “This new access point will benefit pedestrians, cyclists,
people with disabilities and ensure better access to local communities and
visitors. At present, people with disabilities cannot access the greenway
between Pairc Uí Chaoimh and the Mater Private access point”.
“A giant game of ‘Snakes
and Ladders’, which will include ladders and slides, will form part of the
green terraced area surrounding the new access ramp. New seating will
also be incorporated, new lookout points and water drinking facilities. There
will also be extensive soft landscaping works including significant new tree
planting, shrub planting and wildflower meadow planting with native pollinator
friendly species”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.
From 10 May, works
to resurface, widen and install public lighting on the Blackrock Greenway mean
that a section of the amenity between Atlantic Pond and Blackrock Station, will
be temporarily closed. Pedestrians and cyclists will be asked to observe the
diversions in place. These upgrade works are expected to continue for up to 10
weeks.
The Blackrock-Mahon Greenway Improvement Scheme has been designed to enhance this popular route due to increased usage by pedestrians and cyclists for recreation and commuting. The works are also to encourage and prioritise its ongoing development as a green living corridor with significant health and well-being benefits.
