Council to search for private site for park-and-ride at Cobh 

A call is going out for private landowners to help provide a site for a park-and-ride in one of Cork’s best-known tourist towns.

This summer, Cobh attracted a huge number of tourists but limited parking is preventing it from building on its popularity.

Independent Ireland councillor Ger Curley told a meeting of the Cobh municipal district council that they must explore every option to get a park-and-ride system on the outskirts of the town, with a shuttle bus operating to and from the town centre.

“This is because of the lack of parking and the explosion of visitors coming to Cobh during the summer months. 

“It is fabulous to see the number of visitors, but very frustrating for them when they can’t find parking spaces,” Mr Curley said.

He said visitors are being drawn by more than 100 cruise liners docking in the town this year.

“We also have Spike Island, the Heritage Centre, Titanic Tours, and the Titanic Experience. There are also ongoing activities on the promenade, markets every Saturday and a number of festivals that attract them,” he said.

Mr Curley said some visitors are abandoning cars in estates, “leaving local residents feeling like prisoners in their own homes”.

“Surely there is some area where we can make this park and ride available. If the council can’t find a suitable site then maybe a private landowner might help us out,” he added.

Labour councillor Cathal Rasmussen agreed that they should put the request out to landowners.

Municipal district officer Páraig Lynch agreed that the idea was worth exploring. 

He said the council had approached local schools asking them for the use of their car parks during summer holidays.

“It should be noted that the municipal district has contacted schools in Cobh in previous years to determine if the car parks in those schools could be used as temporary car parking during the summer months. 

“Many schools use the summer months to get works to the buildings and site carried out and this has prevented schools from assisting in this regard,” Mr Lynch said.

“I think it is incumbent on us in the council to do everything in our power to access a park-and-ride system for our town going forward,” Mr Curley added.

Meanwhile, Mr Rasmussen asked the council to create another public toilet in Cobh for visitors. 

He suggested it be developed near the Titanic Garden.

Mr Lynch said the council doesn’t own much land in that area but he would look into it.