Plans dropped to knock a hole in Ballincollig's East Gate Wall

THE National Transport Authority (NTA) has dropped plans to knock a hole through Ballincollig’s historic East Gate wall as part of its BusConnects proposals.

The controversial plans would have seen a two-metre wide archway cut into the 200-year-old wall of the old army barracks, beside Healy’s bar, for a new footpath, giving the NTA greater space on the road for wider bus and bicycle lanes.

Local campaigners said this would have fundamentally altered the historical purpose of the wall, which was built to protect the town’s former royal gunpowder mills.

In a statement, the NTA said that following local engagement, it “has worked on optimising the proposed design that would remove the need for an archway for pedestrians in the wall at East Gate, whilst still delivering on the sustainable travel objectives, including delivering cycle facilities in each direction.” 

Welcoming the decision, Fianna Fáil city councillor Colm Kelleher said he was delighted for the people of Ballincollig and for the owners of Healy’s Bar.

“I have been working closely with the NTA, quietly, over the last number of months, and it is a win. The hole in the East Gate will not now be happening, and the car-parking spaces [by Healy’s] will remain and access to the pub will remain almost unhindered,” Mr Kelleher said. 

Sinn Féin local election candidate for Cork City South West, Joe Lynch, described the decision as “a victory for people power”.

“What was being proposed was detrimental to our village’s heritage and its history, and it was vital members of the public had their say.

“The people of Ballincollig mobilised in numbers; with many making standalone submissions to the NTA and almost 1,500 people at the deadline for submissions signing the petition calling for the concerns of residents and businesses in the village to be taken seriously,” Mr Lynch said.

“The campaign to preserve the character and history of our village has succeeded, and the people of Ballincollig have won.”