Glanmire's new greenway is officially opened to public

The Glanmire greenway has officially opened, the first of several upcoming improvements in the area.

Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Gary O’Brien and local elected members of the Northeast Ward accompanied chief executive of Cork City Council, Valerie O’Sullivan on a walk of the new greenway, which opened to the public on Wednesday.

The new path connects the recently-completed link road at Dooley’s Lane, via the former John Barleycorn site.

It includes two new pedestrian and cycle bridges, one across the Glashaboy River into John O’ Callaghan Park, and the second across the Butlerstown River into the former Riverstown Soccer Club, onto East Cliff Road and connecting to the existing shared cycle facility at Glanmire Bridge.

The scheme is part of a suite of major infrastructure works, representing an estimated €50m public investment in Glanmire over recent years.

The schemes, in various stages of planning, construction and completion, include the delivery of the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme, new roads, enhanced pedestrian connections, cycle infrastructure, greenway routes, new river crossings, and community recreation facilities.

Glanmire to City Cycle Scheme Phase 1, which extends from Church Road to Dunkettle Roundabout, was completed in Autumn 2024.

Road and active travel improvement works on Dunkettle Road are scheduled to finish in September-early October and will complete the final connection between Glanmire Community College and the Glounthaune Greenway.

Construction works on Hazelwood Road between Aldi and Crestfield Shopping Centre are due to start this month with a construction programme of 12 weeks.

Glashaboy Flood Relief

The Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme is also now in the final stages of completion and will provide one-in-one-hundred-year flood protection to approximately 103 properties (78 residential and 25 commercial) in Glanmire.

Ms O’Sullivan said: “The investment in Glanmire will have an enormous impact in creating a key destination along the greenway and in strengthening connections between Glanmire Village, Riverstown, East Cliff, John O'Callaghan Park, local schools, residential areas and community facilities.

“It makes Glanmire a hugely attractive place to live, visit, and enjoy. On behalf of Cork City Council I’d like to thank the residents of Glanmire for the patience and support that they have shown while these works have been underway, in the understanding that they will ensure benefits in the area for generations to come.” 

Fianna Fáil’s Margaret McDonnell said: “This will create a really valuable new walking and cycling connection through the heart of Glanmire and, together with the proposed expansion of John O’Callaghan Park, represents a major improvement in the recreational facilities available to the community.” 

Plans for the new park in Glanmire are open for public consultation until Friday October 2 at 4pm and the plans can be viewed online or at Glanmire Library and at City Hall during normal opening hours.

Ms McDonnell added: “There has been a considerable amount of construction and disruption across Glanmire over recent months. It is encouraging that we are now reaching the stage where people can begin to see the benefits of that investment.”