All About Cork: Local hotels honoured at national awards

Cork’s Vienna Woods Hotel was honoured at the 2024 Gold Medal Awards, winning gold in the category Ireland’s Grand Wedding Hotel, a category for hotels which can cater for 101 or more guests.

Over 100 couples celebrated their wedding at the hotel in 2024, and the hotel was nominated in four categories at the awards, including both the small and large wedding hotel category, as well as Ireland’s Country House Experience and Ireland’s Best Family-Run Hotel Group.

The Gold Medal Awards aim to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the hotel and catering sector across Ireland.

Now in its 35th year, the award ceremony took place on Tuesday, January 28, at the Galmont Hotel and Spa in Galway, with each category put to the test by an expert judging panel.

A spokesperson for the hotel said: “A massive thank you to Séamus and Laura for representing our incredible team, whose hard work and dedication made this achievement possible.

“We also extend our gratitude to the Virgin Media Gold Medal Awards judges.

“Thank you to our wonderful couples who trusted us to be part of their special day, this win is for all of you!”

They added: “A heartfelt thank you to our incredible suppliers for their continued support and dedication, helping us create unforgettable experiences for our couples,” and thanked the Galmont for hosting the event.

Another local hotel, The Montenotte, was also honoured at the awards, winning bronze in the category Ireland’s Guest Experience, while Cork’s Hayfield Manor took home the competition’s overall prize, and several other Cork hotels were also noted.

Owner of Vienna Woods Michael Mager told The Echo: “We are absolutely delighted, really thrilled.

“The Gold Medal Awards are really well recognised in the industry, and to be acknowledged by the judges and sponsors is a wonderful achievement.

“Cork did very well in the whole competition, our colleagues at Hayfield Manor, the Kingsley, the Blue Haven in Kinsale, the Montenotte were all recognised, so it’s great for Cork and the tourism industry in Cork in particular.”

Triduum of Masses

The Annual Triduum to Our Lady of Lourdes will take place at Our Lady Crowned Church in Mayfield next week, from Monday, February 10, to Wednesday, February 12. The masses will be each morning over the three days at 9.30am.

In the Triduum of Masses there will be blessings with Lourdes Water, Anointing of the Sick and Veneration of the Relic of St Bernadette.

Fr Charlie Kiely told The Echo: “This will be a time of special graces for people to come and pray to Our Lady and St Bernadette.”

Fr Charlie added that the Family of Parishes will travel on pilgrimage to Lourdes with the Diocese of Cork and Ross this coming September, and they are planning to bring over 50 people to Lourdes from the community, with all interested asked to get in contact with their local church.

Speed limits drop from Friday

The Cork City Road Traffic (Special Speed Limits) Bye-Laws 2024 will come into operation on Friday, and will see the speed limit drop from 80 to 60km/h on several rural roads across Cork city.

Local roads affected include the L-2973 from a point 389m north of its junction with R-639 to the city/county boundary, and Glyntown Road (L-6996) from a point 255m northeast of its junction with Marwood Estate (L-7102) to the city/county boundary.

The full list of all 58 roads affected is available on the Cork City Council website.

The next phase will reduce the speed limits on roads in built-up and residential areas that are now 50km/h to 30km/h, and is expected to come into force around the middle of the year.

Green Party Councillor Oliver Moran told The Echo: “There are a number of areas that I will be particularly interested [in], like Ballyhooly Rd, Lower Glanmire Rd, New Inn, and Burke’s Hill, where residents are calling for reduced speeds.”

GAA club granted permission for new floodlights

Riverstown Football Club has been granted planning permission to erect six new 15m-high floodlights on its grounds in Glanmire, as An Bord Pleanála has decided to uphold Cork City Council’s decision following an appeal by local residents.

They also upheld a decision by Cork City Council to refuse permission to extend the time the lights operate, stating that no floodlighting can operate outside of the 12 hour period currently permitted. The GAA club had applied for permission to extend the hours of operation from 9am to 9pm to 9am to 10.30pm.

The appeal stated that the development would facilitate an intensification of use which would impact residential amenity by means of noise, light disturbance, and vehicular movements late at night. Residents also raised environmental concerns, such as the impact to the ecology of the adjacent woodland and an established bat sanctuary, raising concerns that overspill from the lighting could impact the M8.

Sarah O’Mahony, planning inspector at ABP, stated: “Noise and disturbance is likely to occur from both training sessions and matches including noise from whistles, shouts to players and an influx of vehicles carrying players and spectators, arriving and leaving at the same peak times.

“In my opinion, the potential regularity of this disturbance seven nights a week until 10.30pm would be a nuisance and therefore I agree with the recommended refusal for this aspect of the proposed development.”

However, as the current curfew of 9pm would remain, she said: “I consider that any possible additional noise or disturbance during the winter months would be very similar degree to that currently facilitated by daylight during the summer months.

Mayfield CDP anniversary

Mayfield Community Development Project is marking their 35th anniversary this year, having first opened in 1990.

They are asking all members of the community who have photographs or stories from their time at the community centre to get in touch.

You can email them at mayfieldcdpresource@outlook.com or pop in for a chat to Mayfield Community Resource Centre, 328 Old Youghal Rd, T23 CX7D.

Gardiner’s Hill water works

Water works as part of the National Leakage Reduction Programme are scheduled to take place from 9pm on February 6 until 1am on February 7.

The mains repair works may cause supply disruptions to Gardiner’s Hill, Richmond Avenue and surrounding areas in Cork city. A traffic management plan will be in place for the duration of the works.

Uisce Éireann recommend that those in the area allow three-four hours after the estimated restoration time for their supply to fully return.

The following reference number can be entered into the search bar on the Uisce Éireann website for updates: CCI00088643.

Have Mayfield news to share? Contact amy.campbell@theecho.ie