All About Cork: Gardaí hold annual schools quiz at Douglas GAA Club

Cllr McCarthy’s launches Make a Model Boat Project

Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy invites all Cork young people to participate in the fifteenth year of McCarthy’s Make a Model Boat Project.

All interested participants must design and make a model boat at home and bring it to The Lough on the evening of Thursday 22 May 2025.

The event is being run in association with Meitheal Mara and the Cork Harbour Festival Team for the Cork Harbour Festival itself. There are three categories, two for primary and one for secondary students.

The theme is ‘Boats from your imagination’, which is open to interpretation. The model must be creative though, made from recycled materials and must be able to float. There are prizes for best models and the event is free to enter.

For further information and to register a boat, log onto http://www.corkharbourfestival.com.

Douglas-based MrMcCarthy, who is heading up the event, noted: “Over the 15 years of this annual project, the Make a Model Boat Project has gone from strength to strength.

“The Cork Harbour festival team and I have seen really creative entries and of course it is great to be able to float boats on a fantastic amenity such as The Lough.

“I am encouraging creation, recycling, innovation and imagination amongst our young people, which are important traits for all of us to develop.

“The Make a Model Boat Project is part of a suite of community projects I have organised over the years — the others include the Discover Cork: Schools’ Heritage Project with Cork City Council, the Community local history walks, and local history publications”.

Councillor Buckley is encouraging people to have their say on Luas project

Councillor Buckley is encouraging people to have their say on Luas project

Councillor Audrey Buckley is encouraging people to have their say and demand inclusion of Douglas and surrounding areas in the Cork Luas plan.

In a social media post she said: “Have your say and demand inclusion of Douglas, Carrigaline and Cork Airport in the Cork Luas Project.

“The Cork Luas (Light Rail) consultation is now open until June 9 — but incredibly, the largest satellite population area in county Cork, Douglas – Carrigaline, has been completely excluded from the proposed routes.

“Douglas and Carrigaline are two of the fastest-growing and most densely populated areas in Cork — yet there is no direct connection proposed under the current light rail plans.

“Thousands of residents, families, and businesses will be left behind if we don’t act now.

“We are calling on every resident of Douglas, Carrigaline, and the surrounding areas to make a formal submission to the Cork Light Rail consultation and demand that Douglas – Carrigaline is included in the future-proofed transport plan that Cork desperately needs.

“This is our chance — but we must speak up. If we stay silent, this vital opportunity for sustainable, connected, modern transport will pass us by — and once the route is finalised, it will be almost impossible to change.”

Points to include in your submission:

n  Douglas – Carrigaline is the largest suburban area in Cork with a rapidly growing population.

n  Residents are already suffering from serious traffic congestion and lack of viable public transport alternatives. Excluding the area undermines climate action goals by forcing more car dependency.

n  A Luas link would bring economic, social, and environmental benefits to the entire Cork region.

“Let’s make our voices heard — Douglas and Carrigaline deserve to be part of Cork’s future.”

Councillor Peter Horgan, who is also chairperson of the City Council Transport Committee also called for Douglas to be included in the plan.

“The east-west spine is important as a blueprint but this must also show the blueprints for stages 2-3 which should incorporate connecting Carrigaline and Douglas along with the northside also,” said Mr Horgan.

He also said that an airport link must be a factor in the consultation on the preferred route, saying it can flow from Mahon Point and travel Korean style along the N40 in the middle up the hill towards the airport.

“A light rail here would take significant cars off Airport Hill and the N40 and enhance the ease of congestion that light rail seeks to tackle.”

How to submit your observations: Visit the official Cork Light Rail Consultation website and submit your feedback before June 9 at https://www.luascork.ie/

Have Douglas news to share? Contact rory.noonan@theecho.ie