Create your own model boat from recycled materials and bring it along for judging at the Lough.
The entrant(s) will be placed in categories or levels, of which there are three, 4-6 years olds, 7-11 years olds and 12-15 year olds.
All model boats must be brought to the Lough at 18:30 on Thursday 9 June for display, launching and adjudication. There will be prizes for the best boats and all prize-winning boats will be exhibited during this year’s Cork Harbour Festival 3-13 June, at Cork City Library.
This event is being run in association with Meitheal Mara and The Old Cork Waterworks.
1152a. Count Gerald O’Kelly de Gallagh et Tycooly, 1929 (source: Gallicia Digital Library).
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 26 May 2022
Journeys to a Free State: Opportunities in Belgium
On 22 May 1922 Count Gerald O’Kelly de Gallagh et Tycooly, the Irish Provisional Government Consul at Brussels, arrived in Cork on a trade mission. His ongoing work was important for the economic development of Ireland and for regions such as Cork, and especially as the Provisional Government was heading out on its own to carve out new markets.
The Irish Dictionary of Irish Biography outlines that in July 1919 Gerald was appointed by Arthur Griffith as a Sinn Féin Irish agent to Switzerland. That year Gerald was also active in the Irish delegation to the Paris peace conference. He continued to be the Dáil Éireann representative to Switzerland until March 1921 and he was Ireland’s unofficial diplomatic agent in Brussels from April 1921 to 1923. He held the official nomination of Irish trade agent to Belgium from 1923 to September 1929.
A Cork Examiner representative conducted an interview with Gerald at the Council Room of the Cork Chamber of Commerce at Cork’s Victoria Hotel. It was published on 24 May 1922. Gerald outlined that the object of his Cork visit was to get into touch with trading interests in Cork, and from across Ireland generally and to explore the options of a possible opening for Irish products in the Belgian market. He devoted much of his visit in meetings with merchants and agriculturists, including a deputation from the Irish Farmers’ Union. He also visited Messrs Ford’s factory.
In particular, Gerald was interested in the establishment of a direct service between Cork and Antwerp, chiefly for the transport of goods and cattle. He also envisaged that it would provide accommodation for passengers if there was interest. Gerald was liasing with a Belgian company, which had several ships at its disposal, and he hoped to attract interest from Irish companies.
In his press interview Gerald briefly outlined the possibilities of the Belgian market from the point of view of the Irish exporter and importer. Belgium as a country was about the size of Ireland’s province of Munster. Belgium’s population numbered eight million with a largely effective rail service. Belgium was but a quarter of the area of Ireland, but its population was double that of Ireland.
Gerald outlined that Belgium was essentially an engineering country – he noted “it produces heavy metals, engineering plant and machinery, all classes of railway material, electrical appliances, glass and glass ware, construction materials (cement, tiles, asbestos roofing etc); textiles (woollens and cottons), and yarns of every description. It also exports largely, as well as sugar, sugar, starch, and cattle foods”.
Gerald further detailed that the imports of the country were much needed such as cattle, horses, potatoes, oats, certain classes of woollens and linens, butter and eggs, sheep. goat and rabbit-skins – the latter being used in the manufacture of velour hats.
Regarding a possible trade in butter and eggs from Cork farmers, Gerald highlighted that Irish exporters might as well keep of that market until they were be in a position to grade exports, and then guarantee the quality in each case. That, he said was how Denmark exporters of those commodities managed, and to it in a great measure was due the ready sale of Danish butter and eggs in the different markets to which they were sent.
With regard to the proposed establishment of a cattle trade with Belgium, Gerald noted: “Ireland is the only country in Europe without land frontiers and that would consequently secure its position to give much better guarantees against foot and mouth disease. Fat cattle for slaughter would be the principal demand, but an improvement in the Belgian franc against the English pound and advantageous Franc charges would be essential for the establishment of this trade on a successful footing”.
Gerald pointed out that the low value of the franc, on the other hand, gave importers from Belgium a great advantage, and that most of the articles formerly imported from England could be obtained from Belgium, and in many cases on more advantageous terms.
Concerning methods of trading, Gerald said that in many cases importers in Ireland had asked his advice as to whether they should deal direct with the manufacturer or with an export house in Belgium. His opinion was that “if they were to deal with a very big and first-class manufacturer, who would have his own shipping department, it would be better to deal directly with him; but if not, it would be more advisable to get into touch with a reputable export firm”.
Continuing, Gerald said it would, of course, be to the advantage of trade here if they had a knowledge of French, but even if such wero not the case, they would find that most of the Belgium expert houses would be able to transact the business in English. Few of the manufactures, however, used English. Belgian manufacturing traders were also well organised. In Brussels there was a body known as the Comité Contrale, which corresponded roughly to the Federation of British Industries, in England.
This Comité Contrale comprised all the important manufacturers organisations of Belgium, and its central office information concerning any particular branch of industry can be obtained. What this body does for the manufacturers, the Brussels Chamber of Commerce does for the merchants. Affiliated to the Chamber of Commerce were several hundred organisations known as Chambres Syndicales embracing practically every trade carried on in Brussels.
In regard to the construction materials manufactured in Belgium, Gerald emphasised that there were several factories in Belgium – cement works – and in one case he saw that the analysis practically doubled the British standard specifications. He noted: “In the view of the large amount of reconstruction work with which Ireland is now faced, those details regarding Belgian cement were sure to be of interest”.
Any traders that were interested in either exporting to or importing from Belgium were asked to contact Gerald. One such Cork company which used his contacts was the Irish International Trading Corporation (Cork) who used the opportunity to import glass and cement in the 1920s.
Caption:
1152a. Count Gerald O’Kelly de Gallagh et Tycooly, 1929 (source: Gallicia Digital Library).
Douglas Road Independent Kieran McCarthy recently presented his report on the New European Bauhaus initiative to the European Committee of the Regions plenary in Brussels, to which he is a member. Kieran was tasked by the Committee to prepare a report on the initiative due to his interests in cultural heritage and climate action.
The New European Bauhaus is based on a concept from one hundred years ago in Europe but has been modernised and is now a creative and interdisciplinary initiative across areas from architecture to housing the circular economy that connects the European Green Deal programmeto living spaces and experiences.
Cllr McCarthy in his report noted that the New European Bauhaus initiative is a key opportunity to harness the creative potential of regions and municipalities, provide jobs locally and create accepted and sustainable solutions. Kieran noted: “The European Commission must ensure that cities and regions are at the centre of the initiative and receive technical assistance and appropriate funding”.
The opinion proposes a New European Bauhaus Lab voucher scheme for 100 cities and regions to help them co-create, prototype and test the tools, solutions and policy actions that will facilitate transformation on the ground.
Kieran concluded: “I believe that the New European Bauhaus must become a real movement, which involves local and regional authorities and is not just another top-down project. It must be a project for everyone, not just the few. To be successful, this exercise must be socially, culturally and territorially inclusive”.
1151a. The British army, in Victoria (now Collins) Barracks Cork, taking down the Union Jack flag for the last time, 18 May 1922 (source: Kilmainham Gaol Museum).
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 19 May 2022
Journeys to a Free State: The Evacuation of Victoria Barracks
The last detachments of military, in the occupation of Cork’s Victoria Barracks, filed out on 18 May 1922 at 7pm. Subsequently they embarked on the SS Classic from Custom House Quay. The formalities of the handing over were entirely unceremonious. At about 5pm Captain Hugh MacNeil IRA, came to the barracks, accompanied by another officer representing the Irish Provisional Government. He was met by Captain J G Maghahy, Divisional Officer, Royal Engineers, who escorted him through the buildings.
The Cork Examiner records that there were some 400 menofthe Hampshire, North Staffordshire, and York regiments formed up in the barrack square awaiting orders to proceed out of the space. They were fully equipped, with packs on their backs, and carrying rifles. Each company was under the command of an officer. Their wait for orders was prolonged, and over two hours passed before they got the command to fall in and to move away from their ‘at ease’ position. It is detailed that some of the men had pets with them – “dogs of varied descriptions”. One soldier was so attached to his dog that when the command of ‘march’ was given, he took the dog up inhis arms, and marched.
There in the square of the barracks, surrounded by huge stretches of buildings, rested all that was left of a garrison that frequently numbered thousands. Built between 1801 and 1806 and occupying 37 acres, the Georgian square became the largest military parade ground in Europe. The buildings included sleeping-quarters, stables, a church and a prison for the Cork-based British Army garrison. It was designed to house two infantry regiments, a cavalry, as well as headquarters staff of a military district. It was described in the early part of the nineteenth century as “conveniently” adapted to accommodate 156 officers and 1,994 men and stabling for 232 horses.
On 18 May 1922, at the top of the square the Union Jack flew from the standard. Scattered around it were the oval corrugated caged-in-huts, where IRA members were housed preparatory to being interned at one or other of the British internment camps throughout the country in 1921. To the east of this side of the barrack lay the military prison, so poignantly remembered by many men and women in the south as the Detention Barrack. In the early part of 1921, this place was the scene of the executions. The buildings in this particular section also included two fine residences, the houses of the Governor and the Chief Warder, as well as a terrace ofhouses that comprised the warders’ quarters.
On these prison grounds was also well remembered the courtmartial of Thomas Kent in 1916. He was sentenced to be shot and was buried where he fell. In 2015 his remains were exhumed and buried in the Kent family plot at Castlelyons.
The Cork Examiner details that shortly after the command to move out had been called a soldier carrying a handsaw, and accompanied by an officer, came towards the flagstaff on the square. The soldier was about to cut down the staff when Captain MacNeil approached the officer and protested, asking, “Is this necessary?”. The officer replied that it was necessary, and that the staff was coming down, adding “That flag was lowered for many a true soldier, and it is never going to fly a rebel flag”. The soldier then went on with the cutting of the mast, and just as he had finished the Union Jack was lowered, taken off, and placed at the back of an armoured car, which accompanied the departing troops. The mast then fell and remained on the ground. Another exhibition of ill feeling was the smashing of several windows in the officers’ mess.
The main body of the general public congregated outside the main gate of the barracks and awaited the departure of the troops. It was just 7pm when the gate swung open and the officers led the companies of soldiers out. The reception outside was mixed and the Irish Republican Police was present to prevent anything untoward or any exhibition of feelings between people holding very opposite views. For example, preparatory to the departure the unfurling of the tricolour flag by one woman caused some resentment to another and there was a short scuffle. The police intervened straight away.
The Cork Examiner further relates that there was a second entrance to the barracks from Rathmore Road, and through this at 6pm had come the advance party of the Irish troops. They remained just inside this gate until the British military left, and until Captain Maghahy handed over the lock and key of the front gate to Captain MacNeill.
The advance guard of the Irish soldier came around to the guard room, where they took up their position. The main body of the troops during this time had left Union Quay, and were marching, headed up by the Pipers Band, to the barracks. They numbered about 200, and fully armed, including being in the possession of a machine gun. A large crowd accompanied them en route, and when they reached the gate of the Barracks. They entered into possession amidst enthusiastic cheers. Captain MacNeil then handed over the key to Commandant Seán Murray of Cork No 1 Brigade, IRA.
The evacuation of Victoria Barracks meant that all British military had now left the southern capital.
Kieran’s Upcoming Tours:
Sunday 22 May 2022, Views from a Park – Tramore Valley Park, in association with the KinShip Project; meet at Halfmoon Lane gate, 2pm (free, 90 mins, no booking required).
Saturday 28 May 2022, The Friar’s Walk; Discover Red Abbey to the Greenmount area; Meet at Red Abbey tower, off Douglas Street, 2pm (free, 2 hours, no booking required).
Caption:
1151a. The British army, in Victoria (now Collins) Barracks Cork, taking down the Union Jack flag for the last time, 18 May 1922 (source: Kilmainham Gaol Museum).
An update on the Old Railway Line greenway was given to Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy at last Monday’s City Council meeting.
The Contractor is currently working within the old Blackrock Station. During the course of these works it was necessary to undertake additional conservation and repair work to boundary walls, platforms and adjoining structures. The full extent of this work only became apparent when the overgrowth was fully removed.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “A good few people are asking about the delays to the re-opening of the Old Railway line walk. I questioned the Chief Executive at the last Council meeting and it has been the conservation works around the old Blackrock platform, which has delayed the works. On pulling back the vegetation, the damage on the masonry was worse than expected. I realise that many people are anxious to get back to using a much loved community space. It’s down to a few short weeks now before it’s re-opening”.
Completion works for the new access ramp between the Greenway and the Marina (i.e. through Holland Park) is scheduled to commence in late 2022 as per the original programme. The work on this ramp is staggered to allow for the settlement of the earthwork’s embankment.
The last remaining section of the Passage Greenway Project Phase 1 is scheduled to be fully open to the public in mid-July. The Contractor is likely to have some remaining off line works to complete beyond this date such as the completion of snags etc however this work will not affect users of the Greenway.
1150a. Old Connolly Hall, King’s Terrace, Lower Glanmire Road, present day (picture: Kieran McCarthy).
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 12 May 2022
Journeys to a Free State: A New Connolly Hall
On 14 May 1922, the Cork branch of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union observed the anniversary of the execution of James Connolly, and later that day began a new chapter in their work in their new premises at the former Soldiers’ Home on King’s Terrace, Lower Glanmire Road. This was to become their future headquarters for almost 54 years.
The first Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union cards were issued in Cork in 1909 and indeed the Cork branch of the union was the first established outside of Dublin. It was set up by the dockers of Cork’s port. Within a matter of months, a serious industrial battle ensued, for in June 1909 a strike of over 100 members took place.
Despite the scarcity of industry and of employment in Cork in those years the union made very definite progress. In particular, the union had its own premises on Oliver Plunkett Street. In 1920 a more substantial premises was occupied by the union on Camden Quay. In August 1920, Crown troops made an assault while the Irish Trade Union Congress was meeting there. Four months later during the Burning of Cork on 11/12 December 1920, the Black and Tans targeted the union’s hall raiding it, smashed it up and destroying it by fire. It was then necessary for the union to move back to its old building in Oliver Plunkett Street. In early 1922 the Cork Soldiers Home on King’s Terrace came on the market and the union secured possession.
Initially the premises for the old Cork Soldier’s Home was donated and was opened as the first soldiers’ home in Ireland on 10 June 1877. The aim was to take young soldiers away from public houses and provide them a different space for entertainment and self-improvement. The concept was initially developed by evangelical Christian and philanthropist Elise Sandes. Research by historian Bryan MacMahon denotes in his research that by 1913 there were 31 such soldiers’ homes attached to army barracks, 22 in Ireland and the rest in India. With the establishment of the Irish Free State most of the homes were closed down. Only three remained open in the Irish Free State after 1921.
On 14 May 1922, the Soldier’s Home was formally taken over by the Cork Branch of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union. The Cork Examiner describes that there was a large congregation at the Connolly Memorial Mass, which was celebrated in St Francis Church at 9am. Later in the day the members assembled at their old headquarters, and headed by their fife and drum band marched in processional order through the streets of the city. A well-ordered body of organised workers, preceded by the band of the union, proceeded through the city and attracted considerable public interest. The procession went through St Patrick’s Street, Grand Parade, South Mall, and across Brian Boru Bridge to the Soldier’s Home.
At 2pm Alderman William O’Brien, Dublin branch, General Treasurer, opened the door, and declared the new premises opened in the name of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union. A short public meeting was held and addressed from the window of the newly occupied premises. William noted that he considered it a great honour to be associated with the ceremony. “This is a red-letter day in the annals of Cork and the history of the working classes. Two great events have taken place today, the anniversary celebration of the martyrdom of Connolly and the taking over of a hall, which lately was the post of the British garrison. My colleagues and I are proud to be there on behalf of the executive of the Union to show how we appreciate what has been done by the Trades Union in Cork, and how they have stood steadfast to the Union and to the working class organisation, notwithstanding all the difficulties they were up against”.
William continued to outline that a few short years previously the organisation was down but Phoenix-like, it had risen from its ashes, and the workers were never better organised than today. He noted: “we have built up the organisation, and every employer recognises it as a force that cannot be fought successfully or defeated. I am sure they recognise its great value and refuse to be drawn aside by anything that might occur to weaken it”.
On 18 May 1922, the first meeting held in the new Connolly Hall took place, which was a meeting of the branch committee. It was presided over by Michael Hill and attended by 38 delegates from the different sections. Michael was an insurance agent, a member of the National Executive Council of the union, and played a vital part in the affairs of the union in Cork in those difficult days. His theme that night, in the first union speech made in Connolly Hall, was the dire need for working class education so that the trade unionists could achieve a rationalised movement as the first essential step towards industrial democracy.
The 1930s were a decade of industrial revival and the Cork branch increased its membership overall by 120 per cent in the first eight years. In Cork, this entailed the introduction of two branches headed respectively by Dominic O’Sullivan and Jim Hickey. The post-war years were also ones of steady expansion, with no less than seven branches servicing Cork City and County being created which catered for a wide variety of occupations and industries.
Not surprisingly, therefore, a decision was taken to construct a new centre for the Union in the city. The foundation stone of a more spacious Connolly Hall on Lapp’s Quay was laid on 15 June 1974.
Kieran’s May 2022 Tours:
Saturday 14 May 2022, The Northern Ridge – St Patrick’s Hill to MacCurtain Street; meet on the Green at Audley Place, top of St Patrick’s Hill, 2pm (free, 2 hours, no booking required).
Sunday 22 May 2022, Views from a Park – Tramore Valley Park, in association with the KinShip Project; meet at Halfmoon Lane gate, 2pm (free, 90 mins, no booking required).
Saturday 28 May 2022, The Friar’s Walk; Discover Red Abbey to the Greenmount area; Meet at Red Abbey tower, off Douglas Street, 2pm (free, 2 hours, no booking required).
Caption:
1150a. Old Connolly Hall, King’s Terrace, Lower Glanmire Road, present day (picture: Kieran McCarthy).
Create your own model boat from recycled materials and bring it along for judging at the Lough.
The entrant(s) will be placed in categories or levels, of which there are three, 4-6 years olds, 7-11 years olds and 12-15 year olds.
All model boats must be brought to the Lough at 18:30 on Thursday 9 June for display, launching and adjudication. There will be prizes for the best boats and all prize-winning boats will be exhibited during this year’s Cork Harbour Festival 3-13 June, at Cork City Library.
This event is being run in association with Meitheal Mara and The Old Cork Waterworks.
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has announced his historical walking tours for May, which have a focus on the hills and views of Cork. He will conduct walks across the area of Tramore Valley Park, St Patrick’s Hill area, and also around the Barrack Street area. The Tramore Valley Park tour will explore the development of the area from being a swamp through to being a landfill and then onto being an artificial mound to enable the development of a park. All of Kieran’s tours are free and no booking is required.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “Cork’s Tramore Valley Park is an exciting addition and recent initiative of Cork City Council. It is great to be able to revisit the cultural heritage of the park and its surrounds with the Kinship arts project this month. Historically William Petty’s 1655 map of the city and its environs marks the site of Tramore Valley Park as Spittal Lands, a reference to the original local environment and the backing up of the Trabeg and Tramore tributary rivers as they enter the Douglas River channel. We are lucky that there is also really interesting perspectives on the area recorded through the ages, which have been great to research”.
“Walking across the park, one can feel the tension in its sense of place, a place haunted and engineered by its past and teeming with ideas about its future. Of course, there are green spaces scattered across the city but none with the same scale of development and story as the 160 acre site off Kinsale Road. This is a site where the city’s environment has also been a regular topic of debate across local newspapers and in the city’s council political chamber”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.
Kieran’s May Tours:
Saturday 14 May 2022, The Northern Ridge – St Patrick’s Hill to MacCurtain Street; Tour around St Patrick’s Hill – Old Youghal Road to McCurtain Street; meet on the Green at Audley Place, top of St Patrick’s Hill, 2pm (free, duration: two hours, no booking required).
Sunday 22 May 2022, Views from a Park – Tramore Valley Park, historical walking tour in association with the KinShip Project; meet at Halfmoon Lane gate, 2pm (free, duration: 90 minutes no booking required).
Saturday 28 May 2022, The Friar’s Walk; Discover Red Abbey, Elizabeth Fort, Barrack Street, Callanan’s Tower & Greenmount area; Meet at Red Abbey tower, off Douglas Street, 2pm (free, duration: two hours, no booking required).
1149a. Ruins of Roches Stores department store, St Patrick’s Street, 12 December 1920 (source: Hogan Photography, National Library of Ireland).
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 5 May 2022
Journeys to a Free State: A New Reconstruction Committee is Formed
The meeting between the Irish Provisional Government representative Diarmuid Fawsitt and the Cork Reconstruction Committee of Corporation of Cork had been long awaited. For over fifteen months since the Burning of Cork on 11-12 December 1920 there was a great desire to have the rebuilding proceeded with as rapidly as possible and for the lack of compensation forthcoming resolved.
As part of the Anglo-Irish agreement the principle of compensation was acknowledged for those who had suffered loss or injury of the kind governed by the enactments relating to Criminal Injuries. These included those sustained during action taken by the military operating under martial law between 21 January 1919 and 11 July 1921. Consequently, the Compensation (Ireland) Commission was established jointly by Westminster and Irish Provisional Governments respectively in early 1922.
On 2 May 1922 Diarmuid Fawsitt of the Ministry of Economy met with a recently formed Cork Reconstruction Committee, which replaced an inhouse members committee. The new committee would have local councillors but more specifically representatives of owners of buildings, a representative of the Provisional Government in the form of Cork’s Alderman Liam de Roiste TD. Dublin based Thomas Cullen was the government’s supervising architect whilst Mr Patrick Harnett McCarthy was the government’s representative engineer.
The Cork Examiner outlines the statement at the meeting by Diarmuid Fawsitt. He was glad to tell those present that one of the Provisional Government’s earliest efforts was to come to an understanding with the British government to set up a compensation commission. All the arrangements with the British government had been advanced. Its personnel would be announced in the days to follow.
Diarmuid noted of the re-opening of all cases and re-examining previous compensation awards; “They were all aware of the destruction wrought in that country by the armed forces of the British government, and they were also aware of the prejudiced manner in which the then representatives of justice approached the cases. In a number of cases, amounts altogether too large were awarded, while in others they were quite inadequate. The Compensation Commission would have to investigate all cases that were undefended, and machinery was also being set up whereby claims could be reopened with a view to revision. The cases that would stand or those in which defences were put up by local authorities”.
Diarmuid outlined that considering the magnitude of the task, the work of the commission would take some time. In view of the circumstances the Provisional Government thought it better to make arrangements so that decree holders could get the necessary financial assistance to start rebuilding immediately. Otherwise, the work of rebuilding could be delayed further, and decree holders may hesitate to start building it all.
The Provisional Government had prepared a scheme for general reconstruction work throughout the country. Decree holders would be facilitated to obtain government loans, and to enable them to build, particularly where trade and industry concerns were central. All claims for government loans in advance could be made to the secretary of the Office of Public Works. Diarmuid noted: “every claim would receive a sympathetic consideration and all the circumstances would be taken into recognition and the financial assistance requisite in the circumstances would be forthcoming but the government”.
As regards the Cork City situation, Diarmuid detailed it was felt by the Provisional Government that it demanded a special effort on their part to help reconstruction in the city. He was glad to say that it was largely because of the city’s civic spirit that the government intervened. He wished to give credit to the Corporation of Cork and the owners of destroyed properties for having set up the initial reconstruction committee, which had been functioning there for some time. The work of that committee was preparatory to the work of the committee they were setting up.
In the new scheme it would be provided that advances would be made by the government up to three-fifths of the actual decrees obtained in courts. In otherwords, if a claimant held a decree for £5000, the Provisional Government was prepared to advance, as the building, was being constructed the sum of £3000. It was provided that the sum of £10,000 be made available immediately to the Reconstruction Committee through the Corporation’s finance officer.
The Reconstruction Committee would then consider what they would require each month. And so on until one of two things occurred – either the actual decrees were made good to the decree holders by the compensation commission are the buildings were completed when there would be no longer a necessity or obligation on the provision government or to provide the loans.
All claimants would have to satisfy the community that they were actual decree holders. Applications for payments would have to come before the City’s Treasurer or finance officer and would subsequently have to come before the architect and engineer of the Provisional Government for certification. Then the City Treasurer, on the authority of the committee, acting on the certificate of the city solicitor an engineer, would make an advance to meet the actual expense of building.
The engineer and architect of the provisional government would have their services at the disposal of the committee when required. Diarmuid concluded by noting “they would like to see the new Cork excel the old Cork, and they look forward to the day when Cork and the Port of Cork would enjoy greater prosperity than they ever did in the past”.
Caption:
1149a. Ruins of Roches Stores department store, St Patrick’s Street, 12 December 1920 (source: Hogan Photography, National Library of Ireland).
Mahon Cycle Scheme Proposal, May 2022 (Cork City Council)
If you live in the areas below, it is very important to have a look at these road and public realm changing plans on the link below:
Cork City Council intends to carry out the following traffic management measures on:
Ringmahon Road,
Avenue de Rennes,
Skehard Road,
Ballinsheen Road,
Sean Cronin Park, Ashwood,
Mahon Drive,
Lakeland Crescent,
Loughmahon Road,
Loughmahon Park
and Castle Road
for the safety and convenience of road users, and in response to the public call for more pedestrian safety measures and the fixing of the public realm within the Mahon neighbourhood.
The main elements of the proposed Mahon Cycle Scheme are:
– Renewal of footpaths and enhancements to the public realm.- Installation of upgraded controlled pedestrian crossing facilities.
– Installation of raised table-top ramps and uncontrolled crossing facilities at junctions.
– Installation of circa 5.3 km of cycle infrastructure, including segregated cycle tracks and greenways. – Signalisation of junctions at Ringmahon Road West/Skehard Road, Ringmahon Road/Avenue de Rennes and Skehard Road/Avenue de Rennes.
– Adjustments to the existing road layout, including traffic lanes, parking areas and new road markings and signage.- Other necessary associated works.
The project will be funded by the National Transport Authority, and offers funding heretofore non existent in Cork City Council’s coffers to do any works.
My email is at kieran_mccarthy@corkcity.ie if any clarifications are needed. I did ask that the maps be made easier to read. I was partially successful in that quest.
Kieran’s Press Quote:
“A e6m investment by the National Transport Authority into the heart of Mahon is significant. The funding may come from the National Transport Authority but it is being driven by Cork City Council as a response by local residents and ward councillors like myself calling for substantial investment in the public realm in Mahon”.
“The funding won’t solve all of the area’s crumbling footpaths and roads, but it is a start and does put a huge focus on the principal roads putting in protected cycleways bit also upgrading footpaths. I regularly get correspondence from Mahon residents calling for measures to slow down the traffic, calls to add in new pedestrian crossings, and altogether make it a better and safer area to be able to walk and cross the core roads in the area”.
“This is a big cycle scheme though with over 5.5kms of road space effected. I have called on the engineer involved in the project to have info days for the local community so people can hear about the process behind the project. I would call on all local people to have a look at the scheme on the Cork City Council Consultation web page. Google the latter and the scheme can be reviewed. If there questions and or concerns it is important to put in a submission during the public consultation phase. I have no doubt there will be aspects that local people can support and others that may not gather as much support – but please make a submission – is my call to local people who have concerns”.
