All About Cork: Progress made on Mahon library but funding is unavailable

Cork City Council’s Library Development Unit has confirmed that progress is being made on the much-anticipated Mahon library and youth centre project.

A spokesperson for the local authority told Sinn Féin Cork South Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire that the project, which has been a topic of discussion for a number of years, has been partially granted Stage 1 Approval from the Department of Rural and Community Development.

A representative for the department said that approval has been partially granted for the library aspect of the project only, and that further information will be required in relation to preliminary drawings before the project can progress to the next stage.

“I am pleased to issue Stage 1 Approval in Principle for the library element of the project only, subject to conditions,” the representative said.

“It is noted that the preliminary drawings submitted contain three design options — these are of an exploratory nature and do not provide the level of detail that we would expect to be provided with the Stage 2 Application.

“I also note that the application seeks funding of €2m under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027 — [which] is now fully committed, therefore, there is no scope to allocate funding to any additional projects.”

Mr Ó Laoghaire said that while confirmation of the partial approval is welcomed, he is hopeful that the Government will identify a “new funding stream” that will aid in the facilitation of the project.

“I am glad to say that the proposal for a library and youth centre at Mahon has gotten approval for the library part of the project,” Mr Ó Laoghaire said.

“I know that there is a strong library committee in the area who have been pushing for this — it is a very important piece of community infrastructure.

“It will be located on the site [of] Nagle Community College, [and will have a] public entrance separate to the school entrance,” Mr Ó Laoghaire added. “That [being] said, there is still a long road ahead.

“The approval was for the library part, not the youth centre part, [and] this too needs to be approved.

“I know it’s part of the council’s ask, but this is essential given the young population in Blackrock, Mahon, and surrounding areas,” Mr Ó Laoghaire said.

He further highlighted a need for increased funding for the project, as no further funding can be allocated under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027.

“The Government has spent all of the money under the library capital funding until 2027,” said Mr Ó Laoghaire.

“[They] need to be pushed into opening a new funding stream.

“I will certainly be putting pressure on the Taoiseach to ensure new funding streams are delivered, [as] this is a large chunk of the city that doesn’t have a nearby library [and this] needs to change.”

Call for increased consideration for BusConnects project

A call has been made by Labour Party councillor Peter Horgan for increased consideration of the South East ward in plans for Cork’s BusConnects project.

Mr Horgan said that it is frustrating that provisions for bus stop enhancements across the ward have not been included in the latest correspondence shared by the BusConnects team.

In a leaflet published by BusConnects last week, there are no visible plans for new, upgraded or re-positioned bus stops across the areas of Ballinlough, Ballintemple, Mahon, Blackrock, Douglas, Rochestown and Maryborough.

“We have a rake of bus stops across the South East ward, particularly on routes that support vulnerable passengers [which] need clear signage installed,” said Mr Horgan.

“It’s also confusing the different strands and personnel responsible for bus stop signage.

“We need a bus shelter in Blackrock village; bus shelters and improvements for Maryborough Woods and Carrigaline Road; the creation of bus stops at Menloe Gardens, St Michael’s Church, Blackrock Village and Convent Road; and pole improvements at the bus stop at Lissadell Northbound.

“A bus stop should not take this long to provide — having properly signed stops, with shelters where possible, is a tiny sliver in encouraging more use of our public transport network.”

Challenge 21 event for Down Syndrome Centre Cork

Down Syndrome Centre Cork is inviting members of the public to take part in this year’s Challenge 21 event.

The annual event is aimed at raising funds for the centre on Forge Hill, which provides supports to more than 180 children with Down syndrome and their families in the Cork region.

The Challenge 21 event, taking place on June 15 from 10am to 5pm, will see participants walk, run, or jog the 21km distance from Haulbowline to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, in the name of raising both awareness and funds for the city-based service.

On the day, there will be a bag drop facility for attendees, five water and snack stations positioned along the route, on-site stewarding and signage, as well as medals for participation, goodie bags, and high-quality photographs.

Tickets for the event, ranging from €21 to €50, are available online via the challenge’s Eventbrite page: https://tinyurl.com/2mazn7y8.

Mass of remembrance

The organising committee at the Holy Cross Parish are reminding members of the public they will host their annual Mass of remembrance at St Michael’s Cemetery next month.

The special ceremony, aimed at honouring all of those buried in St Michael’s Cemetery in Blackrock, will take place at the graveyard on June 25 from 7.30pm.

Attendees are asked to bring their own seat to the ceremony, however, in the event of unfavourable weather, the mass will be celebrated at the Holy Cross Church in Mahon.

Additional parking will be available on the day at St Michael’s Football Club, located directly across from the entrance to the cemetery.

Drop and swap event

Scoil na Croise Naofa in Mahon will host a ‘Drop and Swap’ day on June 12, aimed at promoting a ‘second life’ for school uniforms.

The event will be hosted at the primary school on Avenue de Rennes from 1pm to 2.30pm.

Attendees are invited to bring unwanted and/or used school uniforms with them to donate to the drop and swap pile, as an effort to reduce waste through recycling, and to help lessen the burden of cost for other families with children entering education.

Donations to the drop and swap are being accepted from this week, with anyone interested in contributing to the event asked to contact Maeve Heaphy HSCL on 086-070-7155

Blackrock Village Festival

Organisers of the Blackrock Village Festival have announced the event will take place on August 23 and will feature a range of family friendly activities, aimed at people of all ages and abilities.

In a post shared on social media, event organisers said that this year’s edition of the festival will be “bigger and better than ever”.

Highlights from this year’s programme include a village parade, live music, a kids play area, a photo exhibition of old Blackrock, and a talk on Blackrock from author, Diarmuid Ó Drisceoil.

More information on the line-up of activities will be published in due course.

Have Mahon and Blackrock news to share? Contact rachel.lysaght@theecho.ie