Cork businesses begin cleaning up streets as part of new initiative

The Cork Business Association (CBA) hosted its first Cleaning and Greening morning yesterday in Cork city centre.

A team of volunteers focused on cleaning and improving North Main St, as part of a wider campaign to refresh and revitalise streets across Cork city.

The volunteers, working closely with local businesses on North Main St and with CBA volunteers, gave the street a spring refresh through deep cleaning, power washing, algae removal, planting, and painting.

Painting and cleaning contractors were also on site to assist the CBA volunteers.

Additionally, a mural project, led by artist Alan Hurley, will further colour 14 electricity boxes along the street.

This initiative follows a visual ‘Clutter and Quality Audit’ of the street, undertaken by the CBA and Cork City Council, which identified short-, medium-, and long-term actions that would enhance the area.

Those actions included clearing dirt and debris, addressing unsightly wiring, redundant poles, outdated signage, broken lights, and other items that were in need of repair or replacement.

CBA president Dave O’Brien said the initiative was about the business community “taking real ownership and pride in our city and making it as attractive as possible to shoppers, visitors, and residents”.

The CBA initiative was supported by Cork City Council, McKechnie Cleaning Services, Pat McDonnell Paint, and St Peter’s.

North Main St was the first in a series of Cleaning and Greening mornings planned by the CBA.

The initiative will be rolled out across the city annually, with the CBA also offering support to other business districts by sharing learnings, conducting audits, and advising on available grants and supports.

The CBA said the ambition for the campaign is to create the cleanest, safest city in Ireland to visit, work, live, and do business in.

For more information on the CBA’s Cleaning and Greening mornings, or to get involved as a sponsor, see corkbusiness.ie or contact info@corkbusiness.ie.