Demonstration to be held in Ballincollig against proposed arcade

A demonstration against a proposed arcade development in Ballincollig has been organised for this weekend.

It comes as a petition opposing the gaming arcade, which was recently granted permission by An Coimisiún Pleanála, has garnered almost 1,600 signatures.

In June 2024, Cork City Council refused permission for the gaming arcade at Unit 4, Westside Retail Park, but An Coimisiún Pleanála recently overturned this decision and granted permission to Coalquay Leisure Ltd to open the facility, which will be open from 9am to 1am daily.

The demonstration will take place tomorrow at 12.30pm.

It will begin at Starbucks in the centre of the village, making its way via Main Street and Harrington Street to the site of the proposed development at Westside Retail Park.

“Cork City Council agreed with the community in respect of this development when it first emerged over a year ago by rejecting planning permission for it,” local Sinn Féin councillor Joe Lynch said. “That decision has now been ridiculously overturned by a determination of An Coimisiún Pleanála.

“This development is opposed by the local community and doesn’t belong in Ballincollig. We are calling on the community to mobilise this weekend — to say loudly that this development is not wanted in our village and to call on those behind the proposal to back off.”