In the 1911 census, Ballinlough had a population of just over 400 people with 17 families engaged in market gardening. Fifty-five percent of the land was under market gardens whilst the rest was grazing land with a scattering of orchards. The two prominent orchards were where the Orchard Bar is and where Ballinlough Community Park is, respectively.

John Hogan in my edited book – Journeys of Faith, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Ballinlough, Celebrating 75 Years – describes the country landscape of Boreenmanna Road and the community park as a former orchard in the 1930s and 1940s;

“In the olden days the road was not tarred and was a dirt road. I had four brothers and we used to play hurling on it. The street lighting was there and the street lamp opposite our house was the last one as you went out the road. We had running water, but other neighbours did not. There was a pump, a fountain really, opposite Peter Goggin’s House. There are apartments down there now at Elderwood. Hennerty’s was a big orchard where the community park is now. At harvest time he would have 20 or 30 people to pick the fruit”.

Fast forward to during the late 1960s and meetings were also held to discuss further the establishment of a parish association for Ballinlough. At a meeting on 23 April 1968 a committee was elected, and it adopted as its objectives the provision of playing fields, a swimming pool and a community centre with facilities for young people.

Locals John Hogan, Dermot Kelly, Jerry Coakley, Michael Collins, Michael McCabe and many more of the study group threw their weight behind the concept of a new association. Indeed, for many years the credit union and the community association shared the old Thornhill House as their headquarters.

In December 1972 members of Cork Corporation approved a development plan for a park to be created on part of Hennerty’s land off Boreenmanna Road and for a swimming pool, playing pitches, tennis courts, and squash courts to be created on the then defunct Douglas Nurseries.

Members of Cork Corporation recommended that Hennerty’s land, which was to be acquired by Cork Corporation, be cleared, grassed, and planted as an open space, with shrubbery and park area. The park opened in 1973.

Check Out: In recent years Ballinlough Youth Clubs have established the Old Ballinlough Faery Trail at Ballinlough Community Park complete with fairy houses as well as the beautiful mural at the beginning of the trail. The park is also home to the annual Ballinlough Summer Festival. The work of Ballinlough Community Association and Centre, Ballinlough Scouts and Ballinlough Tennis Club is also fantastic.

Read more about the Japanese Gardens here: 4. Japanese Gardens Ballinlough | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy

Read Kieran’s June 2024 local election manifesto here: 2. Kieran’s Manifesto, Local Elections 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy