Calls for the upgrade of Mahon playground

CALLS have been made for €50,000 to be spent on the upgrade of the Mahon playground.

Fianna Fáil councillor Terry Shannon has called on Cork City Council to allocate €50,000 from the Community Recognition Fund for upgrade works on the playground in Mahon.

The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland.

Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects in cities, towns, and villages nationwide.

Speaking to The Echo, Cllr Shannon said that Cork is due to receive around €1.2m from the Community Recognition Fund, with around €200,000 to be allocated to Mahon.

The Fianna Fáil councillor said he hopes to see the funding go towards local amenities and the possible upgrade of footpaths in the area.

“The playground has been looking a bit in need of repair, and I’m proposing that we spend €50,000 from the fund to upgrade the playground in Mahon,” he said.

“We were able to do good work with that funding last year, and I’d like to see more of it put towards projects in Mahon.

“We’re putting an amenity walk right through the park as part of the work we’re doing - people will be able to walk from Ringmahon Rangers, over a new pedestrian crossing, through the regional park, out onto Avenue de Rennes, over into Mahon Drive and out onto Convent Road.

“That will traverse Mahon, which will allow people to walk right through and access the village very quickly. So, while that work is ongoing, I think it’s certainly time to enhance the playground,” he added.

“We’ll also need some boundary works in terms of fencing as well, as some of the gardens of houses in Castle Meadows back on to it.”