Local elections 2024: A very strong sense of community in large Cork city South West ward

A STRONG sense of community, recreational amenities and parks, university campuses, multinational companies, small local businesses, sporting and voluntary organisations and a hospital campus all set the South West ward apart, according to local councillors and residents.

Made up of vibrant and bustling smaller towns and areas, such as Ballincollig, Bishopstown, Togher, Wilton, and Glasheen, the South West ward attracts people to live, work, and study, but that does not come without its challenges.

The ward is bigger than it was pre-2019, following the Cork city boundary extension, which included the addition of the hinterlands of Togher, Lehenaghmore, Curraheen, and Ballincollig.

Local councillors, both those seeking re-election and new election candidates, spoke to The Echo about what makes the ward unique and the issues that have to be tackled.

Councillors, while welcoming the diversity and character that institutions such as Munster Technology University and University College Cork bring and the significance of having Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital in the Wilton area, said it can also cause associated problems, traffic and parking in particular.

“Traffic and parking are issues that will always be associated with large institutions, and we certainly have our share of those problems,” Fianna Fáil councillor Fergal Dennehy said. 

“I welcome the pilot scheme for a park-and-ride at the Curraheen Greyhound Track, but I firmly believe that we need multiples of this to stop the hundreds of cars that pass through our residential states of Uam Var and Leesdale on a daily basis.”

He said: “In addition, there is indiscriminate parking in all estates with close proximity to CUH, MTU, and UCC, which creates absolute chaos and dangers for local residents. In some areas, the parking is so bad that emergency vehicles are unable to access houses: This has to end.”

Sinn Féin councillor Orla O’Leary also spoke about the need to get traffic planning right and said the ward, as a destination for work, education, and healthcare, put huge pressure on roads.

“We see it every morning and evening on the Model Farm Road out to Ballincollig, on the Melbourne Road, Curraheen Road, down into Wilton and Togher,” Ms O’Leary said. “We have to respond quickly to the evolving demands on the local road network.”

One issues brought up time and time again by locals was that social and private housing and student accommodation needed to be developed “to support everyone”, Independent councillor Thomas Moloney said.

“It has to be made affordable and available. This is also linked to homelessness and there are no boundaries between individuals and families all across the ward,” he said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Colm Kelleher welcomed the developments that are under way in the South West ward and across the wider city, but said more needs to be delivered to meet demand.

“In 2018, there were double-digit numbers of housing being delivered by Cork City Council,” Mr Kelleher said. 

“We’re into four-digit numbers this year. In the last five years of council, we have spent nearly €900m on housing alone in Cork City.

“At the moment, across the city, we have 3,600 houses either at planning stage, at construction, or soon to be completed, and that’s social, affordable, and private.

“Across the South West ward, there are currently 522 houses being constructed and that is one ward within the city.”

Fine Gael councillor Garrett Kelleher said that funding for housing-improvement grants and housing maintenance was among the ward’s greatest challenges, as it was across the city.

Garrett Kelleher said: “While progress has been made during the current council term in the area of social housing, with reduced wait times on the housing list and success with schemes such as tenant-in-situ (whereby the council purchases homes that had been previously been privately rented by social-housing applicants), the progress has not been fast enough for many and needs to be accelerated.”

“In the South West ward, we have seen the successful launch of affordable-housing schemes in Bishopstown and Ballincollig and we look forward to the launch of new affordable schemes in Lehenaghmore and Sarsfield Road.”

Garrett Kelleher said that more homes need to be built close to new schools, playgrounds, playing pitches, childcare facilities, and shops.

“We need to work with the NTA to ensure that BusConnects Cork is a success for the communities we represent and also work towards the successful delivery of a light-rail system to serve our local communities within the next 10 years.”

Green Party councillor Colette Finn said that more developments, such as Ardrostig, on Hawkes Road in Bishopstown, are needed going forward.

Ms Finn said: “Those types of developments, in Bishopstown and Ballincollig, need to happen, because we’re moving away from this urban sprawl and trying to build houses where people are living.

“If they don’t have a garden, if they’re in an apartment or only have a small garden, we then need those parks like the Regional Park, where people can be outside and within easy reach of where they’re living.”

Another concern heading in to the local election is the condition of footpaths and roads.

Fianna Fáil councillor Fergal Dennehy said that footpaths in older estates have “fallen into disrepair in recent times and badly need to be upgraded”.

“We have called on the Government to allocate additional funding, or to allow us more flexibility with the Active Travel Fund, but, failing that, we need to tackle this problem head on as a local authority. It is, in reality, a Cork City Council problem.”

Fine Gael local election candidate Andrea Christopher Rae said: “In my own area of Lehenaghmore, the lack of footpaths and lighting on roads is a huge concern, as there is no safe way to get down the road or to certain bus stops.”

Green Party councillor Collette Finn, speaking about the importance of infrastructure to support an active, outdoor lifestyle, said: “Concentration has been on roads and moving people around in cars and, absolutely, people need cars, but they also need to be able to walk and cycle.

“That’s something, as the Green Party, we’ve been trying to shift people to think about: A more active lifestyle. We have put all of our eggs in the car basket and we just need to rebalance it and have a multi-modal approach to transport.”

Policing issues have also been flagged as areas of concern in the ward, said Sinn Féin candidate Joe Lynch, who also highlighted the need for a fully functioning local fire service.

Mr Lynch said: “The fact that Ballincollig fire station is lying idle is a scandal. It means the people of Ballincollig are being denied the service they were promised when the city boundaries were redrawn.”

“Local policing is another hot topic. In Ballincollig, we have a Garda station that opens for a grand total of 15 hours a week, if we’re lucky, and it is little wonder that the feeling on the ground is that there is less visible policing in the community.”

Fianna Fáil local election candidate Olga Shevchenko echoed Mr Lynch’s comments and said the necessity to reopen a fire station in the area is “imperative”.

“As the population expands, so do the risks associated with emergencies, such as fires and accidents,” Ms Shevchenko said.

“Having a local fire station opened ensures swift response times, which are crucial for saving lives and minimising property damage.”

Looking forward, Fianna Fáil candidate Terry Coleman said the community must work closely with all stakeholders, including residents, staff, students, and patients in the area to achieve “a fantastic synergy that will benefit all going forward”.

Small businesses ‘the backbone’ of Wilton, Bishopstown areas of Cork City

SMALL local businesses are the backbone of the local economy of the South West ward and the importance of keeping businesses in the area has been highlighted.

Speaking about the importance of Wilton Shopping Centre, its manager, Susanne Irwin, highlighted how it has been a part of the community in Wilton and Bishopstown since 1979.

“Wilton Shopping Centre has more than 60 stores under one roof and has everything any shopper could need, whether it is groceries, clothing, technology, or banking,” Ms Irwin said. “It employs 600 members of staff and is a very large provider of local jobs in the area.”

“The centre has been a part of so many people’s memories growing up, from families coming to see Santa or getting the school supplies for back to school. We are so privileged to be part of the wonderful tapestry of life in the Wilton area, and the loyal customers who have supported us and shopped locally are so appreciated by all the staff at the centre.

“We hope that whoever is elected in the council elections promotes local businesses and helps to support the local economy.”

The general manager of The Viaduct restaurant and café, Brian Ryan, said: “Cork’s strong community spirit keeps The Viaduct thriving. Their support is great, but additional support is always welcome, and it’s absolutely crucial, with the current challenges in the hospitality industry.”

Sinn Féin councillor Orla O’Leary said that small- and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of any local economy and said that keeping the small business community in the southwest of the city thriving and successful “is extremely important for the success of the wider community”.

Fianna Fáil local election candidate Terry Coleman, who has lived in Bishopstown his entire life and owns and runs a property management company there, also acknowledged the importance of supporting local businesses.

“Bishopstown was lacking a town centre feel/focal point, but with the opening of the newly refurbished Dunnes Stores and the recently built credit union, the area is becoming more vibrant again,” he said.

Fine Gael local election candidate Andrea Christopher Rae said: “Small local businesses in the area need to be looked after and engaged with sufficiently to make sure they are supported as possible.”

Speaking about the supports received by local businesses during the pandemic, Fianna Fáil councillor and business owner Colm Kelleher said: “I have to say, the supports brought in by central government and the local authority during covid kept my business afloat and I know that a lot of local businesses I’ve spoken to in Ballincollig and in Bishopstown and Togher and Glasheen would say the very same.”

Mr Kelleher also noted the importance of the larger companies in the ward and the ward’s many industrial estates and retail parks, and said that many of his colleagues on council are envious of the fact that the South West ward is “the only ward in the city with an airport”.

Local politicians highlight the roles clubs play in their electoral areas

THE importance of local clubs and community groups to the South West ward and its tight-knit community has been highlighted as the “most wonderful aspect” of the local electoral area.

Fianna Fáil councillor Fergal Dennehy said the sense of volunteerism and pride in people's community is something he believes is unique to Cork, but particularly the South West ward.

“We have groups catering for our senior citizens, our younger people, those with additional needs and absolutely everything in between,” he said.

“There are a lot of sporting organisations from GAA to soccer, rugby, tennis and boxing and many more all giving freely of their time on a weekly basis to make our communities a better place for all.

“We have hundreds of Tidy Towns volunteers between Togher, Bishopstown and Ballincollig, again, all giving selflessly of their time for the betterment of all.” 

Independent councillor Thomas Moloney said that community associations, family support centres, Tidy Towns, Meals on Wheels, the various GAA, soccer, tennis and sporting clubs, and youth centres give the ward “such life and character”.

Fianna Fáil local election candidate Olga Shevchenko said that Ballincollig is known for its vibrant community events and activities, such as festivals, markets, and sports events which she said bring the community together and create a lively and dynamic atmosphere.

“Overall, Ballincollig community is characterised by its strong sense of community spirit, rich history, beautiful surroundings, diverse amenities, and vibrant events and activities.” The SMA Church and Parish Centre in Wilton is an example of a centre in the heart of the community that has been instrumental in providing support and companionship for many people over the years.

Parish secretary Pauline Neff highlighted the various groups that meet at the centre, including the Women’s Shed, the SMA Walking Group which goes walking on Monday mornings, the Knitting for Africa group which meets every Monday to knit jumpers for newborn babies in Africa, bingo which takes place every Monday night, and a parent and baby group which also meets each Monday.

Ms Neff also acknowledged the generosity of local people who have offered their support and donated to charities over the years under the guidance and hard work of Fr Michael O’Leary P.P., with over €40,000 raised namely for the people in Ukraine, Gaza and Malawi in 2023.

Bishopstown Lawn Tennis Club caters for all levels of tennis for people of all ages in the community, from beginner to social and competitive.

A spokesperson for the club said: “The club also has a strong commitment to the local community and has a mission to make tennis accessible to everyone. We believe that tennis is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and we are committed to providing opportunities for players of all levels to participate and succeed.” 

Fine Gael local election candidate Gary O’Brien said, however, that while his town of Ballincollig has plenty of shopping facilities, schools, voluntary and community organisations, designated facilities to cater for the older population and many sporting clubs that cater to young and old, that more can be done in this space.

“Ballincollig has been crying out for years to get its own purpose-built Community Centre, which will become a centre point for the people of Ballincollig, where they can come to have meetings, play sports, be part of a group or just meet up with friends for a cup of coffee,” he said.

“It will be a home to display the heritage and history of Ballincollig and will be a space for the organisations in Ballincollig to work side by side and acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of each and every group in the community.”