Tom MacSweeney maritime column: Community campaign saves Passage West heritage

The section marked “resident” on Cork County Council’s website describes Cork as: “An ambitious county of thriving communities with limitless opportunities.”

Under planning and development, it states: “Cork County Council’s planning department is responsible for the orderly and sustainable development of the county.”

A further part of the site “public consultations” says that these “enable you to provide input on a range of projects and issues that may affect or interest you”.

How does the council marry those statements?

A photograph on the Facebook page of the Passage West Discussion Group shows three ladies standing under a tree between the roadway into Passage and the River Lee which parallels the road as it flows past the town. 

Text describes they have been contesting the council’s plan to remove the 40-year-old trees and wall which can be seen in the photograph.

It reads: “Won our case to save our wall, trees, and green. Judgement was issued. Cork County Council are likely to ask the court for remittal so we are back up in the High Court on July 6 to securely lock in what we have fought to save from future planning applications.”

This is another battle between planners and a harbourside community.

I have been told that a judge visited the scene before making judgement. For several months, the trees have been wreathed in white opposing their removal under the council’s greenway enhancement project to improve active travel infrastructure and alleviate traffic congestion. Objections to An Coimisiún Pleanála and High Court interventions referred to destruction of the area’s maritime and railway heritage.

It is a pleasant riverside walk along the periphery of the harbour. Similar issues arise between the next community along the river, at Monkstown, where the council seeks to remove the green island in the village centre.

Why is there disagreement between council and communities, whose “lived-in” experience and knowledge would have relevance to planning that will affect them?

The current system of “public consultation” — council issuing its plan, inviting written submissions by specific dates, can suit authority with professional and financial resources, but not necessarily community groups. There could be a better way — discussion and “town hall” style meetings, public forums, and an alternative to legal action would be more harmonious.

After a lifetime in communications, my belief in good communication is the sharing of information, ideas, and emotions, being discussed between individuals, groups, organisations, and official authorities to achieve shared understanding.

Serendipity

“Serendipity” was described to me from Kinsale Yacht Club this week as — “finding valuable, agreeable, pleasant things by chance, or a stroke of good luck”.

That summarises the story of a problem at sea — rivals helping each other, uniting, and winning a major trophy involving Kinsale on the coastline and Lough Ree Yacht Club on the Athlone Lake.

The Inishtearaght Skelligs Race is organised by Kinsale YC and the South Coast Offshore Racing Association, a biennial 240-nautical-mile event off the West Cork and Kerry coastline, from Kinsale, around Inishtearaght, the western most of the Blasket Islands and back to Kinsale.

It was tough when raced in May and a disaster for the successful Kinsale duo of Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt sailing Cinnamon Girl. Their mast broke off Inistearaght while battling against John Malone’s Loinnir Girl from Lough Ree. When it happened, Loinnir stood by the Kinsale boat providing assistance until they sorted their problem and, with a broken mast, got safely to Dingle.

Meeting after the race and discussing what happened, Malone invited the two Kinsale sailors to race with him and Emmet Sheridan aboard Loinnir Girl in last week’s Round Ireland. From “one girl to another” — and in the race they won both Class 3 and the Team Trophy, the latter originally presented to Wicklow Sailing Club by Kinsale YC for the awards. It is topped by a map of Kinsale.

“The idea to sail together was born from the 45 minute ‘pitstop’ at Inistearaght providing radio relay for Cinnamon Girl and some bar chats post prizegiving in KYC,” said Malone. It worked well.

Mainport naming

Cork shipping company Mainport has christened its new ship Geo Master at IJmuiden in the Netherlands.

“An important milestone for our company, marking the official start of a new chapter for the vessel and future offshore operations, reflecting dedication, collaboration, and commitment by all parties involved in bringing Geo Master into the fleet,” Mainport said.

‘Seascapes’ podcast

“We should be proud of our fishermen,” says the new CEO of State fisheries agency BIM, Richard Donnelly, on the July podcast which is available now on tommacsweeneyseascapes.ie, on the Community Radio Network, and wherever you get your podcasts.

• Email: tommacsweeneymarine@gmail.com.