Former Lord Mayor and Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has called for a clearer strategy for the Ballybrack Stream valley or Mangala in Douglas. Cllr McCarthy noted; “The recent commencement of housing works at the old historic estate at Ballybrack on Donnybrook Hill led to several messages to me from locals on the Ballybrack sanctioned housing plan. In November 2023 An Bord Pleanala granted permission for 24 houses to the owner/ developer. The site was sold on recently with the planning permission.

“For the Ballybrack housing development I raised concerns at City Council level and at An Bord Pleanala level, mainly because I felt the proposed houses would impose on the Donnybrook tree and environment boundary of the woods. Counter to my green argument, as part of the Ballybrack housing development a landscape master plan was prepared and was responded to and approved within Cork City Council. It is available to have a look at”.

“However, within the Council Chamber I have raised and still want a bigger discussion on the Donnybrook ridge line of trees. I just feel that The Mangala as an oasis of green and quietness should be more protected in what is a very busy traffic ridden district and gives so much to all who engage with it. In a very busy Douglas area, The Mangala matters more than ever before”.

“More and more segments of the greenery and the Ballybrack stream valley are under housing development pressure. One just has to stand in Castletreasure Cairn Homes site to see the sanctioned through planning system impact”.

All I see is a constant chipping away of The Mangala with no overall conservation strategy for what is a gorgeous streamed valley. There are zoned lands for housing, which is fair enough, but there must be more ambition about creating larger urban forestry spaces and parkland spaces in the Donnybrook ridges as well”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.