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Irish Examiner
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Cork councillors vote to consider renaming Bishop Lucey Park after major revamp
Ireland has become a "cold place for Christians and Catholics", a Fianna Fáil councillor said as Cork city councillors voted to consider a renaming process for Bishop Lucey Park which is undergoing a multi-million revamp. They voted 17-11 on Monday night to approve a Section 140 motion submitted by Worker's Party Cllr Ted Tynan, Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran, and Social Democrats Cllr Niamh O'Connor, calling for the renaming process. Earlier this year, Mr Tynan said much of the documented clerical abuse, sexual, physical, or psychological, occurred during Bishop Lucey's time, both as a serving priest and as bishop of the Diocese of Cork and Ross from his appointment in 1952 until his retirement in 1980. Fianna Fáil Cllr Terry Shannon objected to the move, criticising what he described as 'this headlong rush to change for what many people are the old certainties'. He said people like him respect the 'new certainties and new ideas,' but he said that this isn't being reciprocated. 'There is an attempt now to rewrite history in this country,' he said. 'We see a lot of the old certainties now for an awful lot of people being shoved to one side. This country is becoming a cold place for Christians and Catholics. 'Will we take Fr Mathew down off his statue? Will we rename St Patrick's St, Pope's Quay? Where will it end?' Bishop Lucey Park under re-development by Cork City Council. Picture: Larry Cummins The church has a lot to answer for, but it was just one part of society, he said, pointing out that Bishop Lucey introduced the credit union system to Cork. "It wasn't all bad,' he said. Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy, a historian, said the redevelopment of the park will create new stories, new memories, and symbols, and the revamp presents an opportunity. 'It will be a new public space and park, and it is timely, 40 years on. And there is precedent in this city to replace street and placenames,' he said. Bishop Lucey became Bishop of Cork in 1952, with the diocese of Ross added six years later. He built five new churches named after the five Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary in the city's rapidly developing suburbs, and went on to oversee the foundation of 13 churches during his time as bishop. He founded the St Anne's Adoption Society in 1954 and started the Cork diocesan mission to Peru in the mid-1960s. He died in 1982 and the park was named in his honour when it opened in 1985 as part of the Cork 800 celebrations. Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy, a historian, said the redevelopment of the park will create new stories, new memories, and symbols, and the revamp presents an opportunity. Picture Denis Minihane. Cllr O'Connor said this is not a matter of 'renaming' a park – it's a new park deserving of a new name. 'When the new park opens, it will bear absolutely no resemblance to the park that was there previously," she said. "A new park presents a unique opportunity to choose a name that reflects what we value as a city." The park has been closed since December 2023 for the revamp, which is on course to be completed by November. Read More Cork City councillors retain plan for new bridge despite warnings it will limit use of the Lee
Irish Examiner
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Fears for Cork's bonded warehouse four years after approval for Ireland's tallest building
City Hall says it is engaging with the owners of the historic bonded warehouse on Cork City's landmark Custom House site amid concerns about the deterioration of the protected structure. Planning was granted more than four years ago to Tower Development Properties for the multi-million redevelopment of the privately-owned docklands gateway site to include a soaring 34-storey, 240-bedroom hotel – twice the height of the nearby Elysian building - and a range of commercial uses. The ambitious plan included the refurbishment and extension of the bonded warehouse to provide for a maritime museum and visitor centre, a distillery, as well as various retail, food, beverage and office units. But work has yet to start. At the June meeting of Cork City Council on Monday, historian and Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy sought an update on the status of the bonded warehouse building. The council's director of services for planning and integrated development, Niall O'Donnabháin, said there is still a live planning application on this site, approved by the city council in 2019, upheld by An Bórd Pleanála in 2021, but the site is in private ownership and responsibility for it rests with the owners. 'Cork City Council fully supports the development of this important heritage and gateway site,' he said. 'Following engagement, the owner remains focused on developing the site in line with the granted planning permission and Cork City Council will assist where possible, including exploring potential funding opportunities, to see this realised.' An artist's impression of the proposed mixed-use development at the old Port of Cork site on Custom House Quay. But Mr McCarthy said more needs to be done, adding: 'I note there is a live planning application on the site, but is there anything that can be done to halt the apparent decline of the building fabric? It is horrific to watch." Mr Ó Donnabháin said the council is following up with the site owners from a derelict sites and protected structures perspective. 'We are taking it very, very seriously. We are trying to encourage all aspects of this development, to ensure work is done to protect the buildings which are of national significance,' he said. An Taisce and artist John Adams were among the objectors to the redevelopment of the Custom House site, citing concerns about the height of the hotel, its impact on the city's skyline, and the scheme's wider impact on the history and heritage of the site, which contains three protected structures - the 1814-built bonded warehouse, the Custom House, and the Revenue Building. The three-storey bonded warehouse was built in 1814-19 and contains vaulted stores with stone spiral stairs within external semi-circular towers providing access to the upper floors. It has been unused for several years. The Custom House was built in 1818. The Cork Harbour Commissioners moved into the building in 1904 and built an extension to it in 1906 consisting of a boardroom and offices. The Revenue Building was built in 1814-19 and is a two-storey cut-stone structure between the Custom House to the west and the bonded warehousing to the east. It has been largely vacant for a number of years.
Irish Examiner
09-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Councillors erupt into war of words after former Cork lord mayor votes against social housing scheme
A former lord mayor of Cork has been criticised for voting against one of three social housing projects approved by city councillors on Monday, one of which would deliver 56 homes on a former sweet factory site. Labour councillor Peter Horgan said he was incensed by Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy's criticism of the "bland design" for four apartments on a vacant overgrown corner site at the junction of Boreenmanna Rd and Clanrickarde Estate, which attracted over 40 submissions during its Part 8 public consultation. 'Units like this being rejected because the design is bland?' Mr Horgan asked. 'I'm sorry housing isn't sexy enough for you to vote for it. That is not a reason to vote against housing. I find it insulting to those who worked on the scheme and to those on the housing list The deputy lord mayor, Green Party councillor Honore Kamegni, and Fine Gael councillor Des Cahill also voted against it, with Mr Cahill criticising the way the Part 8 consultation was initially presented to councillors. Mr Kamegni said: 'Just because there is a housing crisis, doesn't mean we have to build anywhere.' Officials said they listened to concerns and omitted the second floor of one of the units, reducing the height from three to two storeys, to deliver two two-bedroom ground floor units, one two-bed unit, and one one-bed unit on the first floor — the maximum changes possible on a tight corner site. Councillors eventually voted 22 to seven to approve the scheme. They also approved Part 8 planning for 56 social homes on the former Topps sweet factory in Ballincollig, which has lain vacant since the company ceased operations in the town in 1998. Design concerns Councillors were told the scheme will be named Innishmore Gardens and comprise of one four-bed house, 17 three-bed houses, 12 one-bed apartments, 12 two-bed duplex units, seven two-bed apartments, and seven three-bed duplex units. The scheme will also provide 58 parking spaces. It will range in height from two storeys to three storeys, and will be carried out for the council by way of a project agreement with OBR Construction Group. Sinn Féin councillor Joe Lynch, who was raised and lives in Innishmore, said he wants to see the housing development succeed and integrated into the existing community. Independent councillor Albert Deasy criticised the council for not taking on board certain design concerns he said he expressed before the scheme was published for public consultation, and he called for it to be referred back to the local area committee. However, council chief executive Valerie O'Sullivan insisted there were no Part 8 proposals before councillors that had not been properly consulted on. 'Most derelict street in Cork' In Blackpool, councillors approved the demolition of a council-owned derelict two-storey house at 24 Thomas Davis St for a three-storey building with two units — one two-bed maisonette over a one-bed apartment, each with their own door access at ground floor level. Fianna Fáil councillor John Sheehan welcomed the proposal for a street he said was once 'the most derelict street in Cork'. 'It once had 23 derelict sites, but that has now been reduced by half thanks to the work of the council. It's great to see the street coming back to life,' he said. Read More Plans for over 360 new homes in Carrigaline resubmitted to Cork County Council
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Ireland's forgotten ‘Hell on Earth' Alcatraz WON'T reopen despite Trump's US slammer plot for ‘most ruthless offenders'
A CORK politician has ruled out Ireland's Alcatraz reopening as a prison following Donald Trump's bid to revive the iconic US tourist attraction. Last week, the Advertisement 4 Spike Island in Cork was once the world's largest jail housing over 2,300 inmates during the famine Credit: Alamy 4 Cork Lord Mayor Councillor Kieran McCarthy said it will not reopen He said the country's 'most ruthless and violent offenders' will be housed in the long-shuttered slammer just off San Francisco, Spike Island in Known as 'Hell on Earth', like Alcatraz, it has become an award-winning attraction. Local historian and Cork Lord Mayor Councillor Kieran McCarthy said there was no chance the Irish Advertisement READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS He said millions have been poured into transforming the island and Fort Mitchel into a place visited by thousands of visitors annually. He told the Irish Sun: 'Spike Island is part of a historical trail in Cork Harbour which also includes Fort Camden and Fort Meagher. 'It has been closed as a prison for decades and it now plays an important part in the He also says he does not believe Advertisement Most read in the Irish Sun Exclusive Latest Cllr McCarthy thinks it is an impossible ask, as Alcatraz had been crumbling before it was decommissioned and is now a He said: 'My gut is that this is a political plot by the President aimed at getting at the Democratic Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, who has been somewhat of a thorn in his side. 'STIRRING THE POT' 'San Francisco is twinned with Cork City and there are good relationships between the two cities. 'I do think Trump is stirring the pot. His plan would cost more than millions and it is something people wouldn't want for the Rock.' Advertisement Spike Island is famously known as Ireland's Alcatraz. It was the first of four An enormous fortress arrived in 1804, its 24-acre footprint so large it could fit Built to defend an empire and repel an all-conquering Napoleon, it was the fort's conversion to a prison in 1847 that drew the eyes of the world and fostered its dark reputation. Advertisement CONDITIONS DETERIORATING The explosion in crime during the Great Hunger led the prison population to swell to more than 2,300, making it the largest formal prison yet seen in Ireland or With such severe overcrowding, conditions quickly deteriorated. More than 1,000 convicts died in the first seven years of operation, each now buried in an unmarked mass grave to the island's east in a forgotten penal tragedy. No women were held on the island but men and boys as young as 12. Advertisement An especially converted 'children's prison' held up to 100 boys in a former ammunition storehouse, the youngsters sleeping in hammocks suspended from chains in the roof. It reopened in 1921, holding more than 1,200 republican prisoners as the Irish War of Independence raged. NOTORIOUS INMATE The A final prison operated from 1985 to 2004, cementing the island's legendary status in the penal system. Advertisement Its most notorious inmate was Martin 'The General' Cahill, who was sent out of harm's way when serving time for breaching the peace. Cork County Council became the owners and, along with tourism interests, developed it into a modern tourism facility with a 100 seater cafe, two gift shops, and interactive units which allow visitors to go back in time and explore the long history of the island. 4 Donald Trump plans to reopen Alcatraz Credit: AP:Associated Press 4 Martin 'The General' Cahill was an inmate in the jail Credit: Getty Images - Getty Advertisement
