Greenway boost as Cork City Council acquires former football grounds

Cork City Council has confirmed it has acquired the former grounds of Riverstown FC as part of the Riverstown-to-Glanmire greenway project.

The football club has relocated to Brooklodge and has already vacated the Riverstown site, paving the way for the next phase of the greenway development.

The greenway is expected to open to the public in August. Proposals to extend John O'Callaghan Park will then be brought before councillors for approval.

City council officials said plans for the park expansion are being finalised and will be published for public consultation shortly.

Local councillor Jerrica Struthers said: “Exciting changes are happening across our community this summer!” 

She welcomed the near-completion of the Glanmire greenway, which will link the recently completed Dooley's Lane road scheme with Glanmire village.

The route will run through the former John Barleycorn site, cross the new ST01 bridge into John O'Callaghan Park, continue over the ST02 bridge to the former Riverstown Soccer Club grounds, and then proceed along East Cliff Road to connect with the existing cycle infrastructure at Glanmire Bridge.

Ms Struthers said that the acquisition of the Riverstown FC lands “presents a fantastic opportunity to expand the park and existing recreational amenities at John O'Callaghan Park, creating a much larger park for everyone in Glanmire to enjoy”.

Councillors were also told that works on Dunkettle Road are entering their final stages, with completion scheduled for September to early October which will deliver the final connection between Glanmire Community College and the Glounthaune greenway.

Meanwhile, Hazelwood road works between Aldi and Crestfield Shopping Centre are scheduled to commence this August — the project has a 12-week construction programme.

Green Party councillor for Cork City North East Oliver Moran said: “This is really great news for Glanmire, which is expanding rapidly as a community and needs new and expanded amenity spaces like these.

“The expanded park is perfectly located between established communities around Riverstown and newer communities near Ballinglanna. The greenway will connect these areas, as well as the historic Glanmire village, like never before.

“Alongside this, active travel works continue to be completed in Glanmire, including those on Dunkettle Road and Hazelwood Road. These aren’t unrelated to the park.

“They’re about creating a coherent and connected community within Glanmire, with the park at its core.” 

Labour’s John Maher said: “It’s great that we got an update on the opening of the greenway, which will be mid-August. We will also see potential expansion of John O’ Callaghan park which is much welcomed by a who live in Glanmire.

“The final piece of the greenway to connect Glanmire with Glounthane will be completed by September/October.

“It’s great to see pieces of the jigsaw coming together. I remember working with former councillor Ger Keohane who had worked with this project back in Cork County Council and since 2019 we’ve worked to get it delivered.

“Great to see progress and I hope that people will enjoy and nurture it.”