Cork city centre community gardeners thank city council

Community volunteers who brightened their locality in the heart of Cork city have thanked the council for its support of their work.

For the past seven years or so, locals on the southside have been toiling to bring colour and life to previously neglected corners of their neighbourhood.

Now, a new ornamental garden has been created on Summerhill South to complement the nearby Pocket Park on Langford Row.

Justine Looney, from the Cork Flower Studio on Douglas St, is a member of the Douglas Street Business Association (DSBA).

Ms Looney told The Echo that it was in 2018 that the decision was made to create an edible garden on a disused piece of land at the roadside on Summerhill South.

“A small amount of funding was set out to create the garden, and with help from neighbours and the DSBA, the site was cleared and planted,”

she said.

Then, in April of 2020, local historian Ronnie Herlihy passed away and the DSBA obtained permission from Cork City Council to transform another disused piece of land at Langford Rw, in tribute to Mr Herlihy.

Work continued through the pandemic and beyond, shaping what eventually became the Pocket Park, decorated with extracts from Mr Herlihy’s book, A Walk Through the South Parish, Where Cork Began.

In March of this year, working with Larry Lynch, the co-ordinator of the Ardfoyle Horticulture Local Training Initiative, volunteers began to imagine a bigger vision for the edible garden.

The new ornamental garden is the result, and now Cork City Council has pledged to support the work of DSBA.

“A dedicated group of local residents and members of the DSBA have put a huge effort in to transforming this little corner of the South Parish in to an urban oasis, and committed to a monthly meet-up to nurture and maintain what was created,” Ms Looney said.

“We’re thrilled that Stephen Scully, of Cork City Council’s parks department, has promised to help us to continue the good work, and we’re extremely grateful.”