Tramore Valley Park set to open next week

Concerts could be on the cards for Tramore Valley Park which is due to open next week. 

This emerged at a meeting of Cork City Council on Monday with City Hall management confirming that opportunities to hold concerts and other events will be explored immediately after opening and a programme of events for the remainder of this year and next year will be prepared. 

The news came to light after Fianna Fáil Cllr Sean Martin asked about future plans for the public amenity which will include a 2.5km walking loop to be named after Cork Olympian Rob Heffernan. It’ll also be home to a BMX track and pitches. 

The 70 hetcre site was the former Kinsale Road landfill and has been cleaned up and decontaminated. It also hit several stumbling blocks along the way but officials say it will be opened by the Lord Mayor Cllr Mick Finn on Wednesday 22 May. 

Extensive works have been ongoing since October 2018 to facilitate the opening and included a major upgrade of the access and exit roads, renewed public lighting and more car parking spaces.

Approval was given by Cork County Council in 2018 for a bridge over the N40, designs of which have been completed. However, there is no funding available for this at the moment and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport will be asked to finance it in the autumn with a view to start the works in 2020.

A study, City Hall say, will be carried out to determine the most feasible link to connect Tramore Valley Park to the Park & Ride facity nearby. 

Meanwhile, Glen Resource Centre has been appointed to manage bookings, sports, events and other activities in the park and they will liaise with schools, clubs and the public about activities.