All About Cork: ‘Everyone should watch out for illegal dumping’

Calls have been made for increased levels of enforcement and fines for littering after local dumping was highlighted by Ballyphehane Tidy Towns.

In a statement on social media, the local tidy towns group said its volunteers had a productive day last Saturday, installing new plants near their shed and preparing their new bench flower bed.

The local group also hit out at “those who are illegally dumping bags of rubbish, garden waste, a table and even an armchair”, sharing photos of the dumped rubbish.

Speaking to The Echo, recently elected Social Democrat councillor, Pádraig Rice said:

“It’s very disappointing to hear reports of increased illegal dumping. Nobody should be leaving their rubbish around for others to pick up.

“There are a few things I’d like to see done,” he added.

“Firstly, I think more fines should be issued to those who dump their waste. There has to be a penalty for bad behaviour. I also think the council needs to make it easier for people to recycle and reuse items, particularly bulky furniture.

“There should be more collection days and better promotion of the recycling centre in Tramore Valley Park, where a lot of items can be recycled. The easier it is to dispose of unwanted items properly, the less likely there will be a problem with dumping.

“There also needs to be more public bins around the place to prevent litter, particularly dog litter. This is something I have raised with the council and will continue to pursue.

“Finally, I’d also like to say fair play to the Ballyphehane Tidy Towns group, who have done incredible work to keep the community clean and tidy.” Former Lord Mayor and local councillor, Mick Finn, said:

“Cork City Council needs to step up its enforcement and vigilance on dumping, given recent examples in Ballyphehane and Turners Cross.

“Local CCTV cameras should be used to try and find out who is disrespecting communities.

“We have great tidy towns groups doing fantastic work in places like Ballyphehane and Togher and dumping such as these cases is a real kick in the teeth for all those volunteers,” he added.

“I call on everyone to watch out for dumping, say it if you see it or report to council or gardaí.

“It is two fingers to our own communities.”

Barrack Street Band park event

The Cork Barrack Street Band continued its long standing tradition of playing at Fitzgerald’s Park for historical events.

The local band, founded in 1837, was among those to play at this year’s National Day of Commemoration in Cork’s Fitzgerald’s Park earlier this month.

Speaking to The Echo, the band’s chair, Billy O’Callaghan said:

“Playing with the band as a child on the bandstand at Fitzgerald Park was always something to look forward to” 

“Discovering later in life that the band had first performed at this location at the Cork International Exhibition in 1902 makes it all the more important that such a long-standing tradition continues.”

Community backs Boyle

The Turners Cross Community Association has congratulated the newly elected Lord Mayor, Cllr Dan Boyle, on his election to the highest office in Cork.

In a statement, the local group said:

“The Lord Mayor has been an integral part of the Turner’s Cross Community Association, being one of the founding members.

“A great night for the Lord Mayor and a great night for Turners Cross.

“Congratulations Dan Boyle.”

Togher access to Tramore park ‘last piece of puzzle’

The installation of access routes from the Ballyphehane/Togher/Turners Cross side of Tramore Valley Park will represent “the last piece of the access puzzle for a fantastic facility,” according to former lord mayor Mick Finn, who opened the park in 2019.

The park stands on a site that previously housed the city’s landfill dump, which councillors sought to remove.

“I think Tramore Valley Park is still very much a work in progress,” Mr Finn said.

“There are many elements of the original plan still to be introduced and I would suggest that a children’s play area and a dog-walking park would fit in well to this fantastic amenity.” 

New cycling and pedestrian access points were introduced in 2023 from the Douglas side, at Half Moon Lane, which Mr Finn points out was a result of a campaign for a bridge over the N40 Ring Road started by councillors in the 2014-2019 council term.

“All the councillors in the South Central LEA worked behind the scenes to get funding for this bridge, as part of connecting parts of the new city to the old, following the boundary extension: it was great then to see it opening last year,” he said.

“More funding is now needed for the last piece of the access puzzle, which will mean even more people on the western side of the city can avail of it, especially when the new walkways and green ways — that former councillor Thomas Moloney and I worked hard on — are opened up.

“It will be a huge part of the city’s green infrastructure, when complete.”

Local charity calls for support to refurbish its ‘dream home’

The founder of a local charity has called for support so the charity can create its “dream home”.

Dogs for the Disabled train accredited assistance dogs that help ensure confident, independent living for children and adults with physical disabilities.

The Togher-based charity recently purchased a new premises, which is in need of refurbishment including a new roof.

In a statement calling for support for the project, Jennifer Dowler, founder of Dogs for the Disabled, urged anyone who can help to donate or get in touch.

“We’ve started work on the roof now, the scaffolding is up, and we are going to drive on and make our dreams a reality,” she said.

“It’s going to cost €120,000 to reroof the house: We’ve been working really hard for the past 10 years to purchase this property and now we need to renovate it to turn it into a dream place for the children and adults we drive to help. 

We need your help, we need you to get in touch, and we need you to be part of the journey, because this is not just our house.

“This is a house for children and adults living with physical disabilities across Ireland. They need you to help us to help them. Please get in touch.”

To donate, visit dogsfordisabled.ie

Have Ballyphehane news to share? Contact darragh.bermingham@theecho.ie