Cork councillor to push case for long-awaited Mahon library

Mahon could be getting its long-awaited library by the end of next year, if a proposal before the next meeting of Cork City Council is passed.

Earlier this year, the proposed library and youth project development — earmarked for a corner of the Nagle Community College campus — was granted partial Stage 1 approval from the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Approval was partially granted for the library aspect of the project only, with the department saying further information would be required in relation to preliminary drawings before the project could progress to the next stage.

Separately, works are at an advanced stage on a mixed-use development on the site of the former Lakelands Tavern on Avenue De Rennes in Mahon, just up the road from the proposed library and youth project site.

The development, consisting of 39 residential units and three retail units was given the green light in August 2022, when An Bord Pleanála rejected a planning objection and upheld Cork City Council’s earlier planning permission.

Proposing

With the Lakelands residential units set to become social housing units, a former lord mayor of Cork is proposing that the downstairs retail units become a temporary home for Mahon’s new library, while works on its permanent home progress.

Fianna Fáil councillor for the south-east ward Terry Shannon is to propose the opening of a temporary library there at the October meeting of Cork City Council.

“We’re looking at a cost of about €2m to do that, and what I’m saying [is] we should finance that by selling part of our landbank in the area and fund a vital local amenity with that money,” he said.

“We should convert those three units into a library on a temporary basis, while we’re progressing the permanent site, and make it forevermore a community space for the people of Mahon.”