Facelift for three city streets
From awnings to parasols to festoon lighting, three city streets have been given a facelift.
Union Quay, Caroline Street and Beasley Street have, this afternoon been unveiled as bespoke outdoor dining destinations following the installation of Failte Ireland-funded infrastructure that will further enhance the city’s outdoor dining experience.
Each street, City Hall said, has been architecturally re-modelled to support outdoor hospitality while incorporating the unique personality of each street.
This year, tens of thousands of visitors to the city availed of the weatherproofed dining facilities at restaurants and bars on Princes Street.
Similar works are due to be completed on Pembroke Street next year.
Architects were engaged to design streetscapes and an improved city centre experience.
The architects worked closely with Cork City Council and the traders on each street to develop their designs. Princes Street, Beasley Street, Pembroke Street and Union Quay are designed by Cork-based Meitheal Architects while local architectural firm, Carr, Cotter and Naessens designed the Caroline Street scheme.
Union Quay now has 16 parasols similar to those on Princes Street. Each premises has an unique colour parasol and windbreaker. Festoon lighting above the parasols. Improved pedestrian access, inclusive of wheelchair access and improved resurfaced road surface.
Caroline Street has awnings, parasols, festoon lighting, 11 mature silver birch trees, bespoke windbreak planter units with age friendly seating.
Beasley Street has larger awnings, festoon lighting along the centre of the street, giant umbrellas and parasols.
Officially opening the new-look streets, Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Mary Rose Desmond said: “We have all seen how successful Princes Street has been since it was unveiled as the country’s most famous street for outdoor dining.
“The thoughtful and attractive design of these streetscapes will help to make outdoor eating and drinking more appealing and comfortable during this festive period and the rest of the winter – a winter which unfortunately is once more marked by uncertainty.”
She added: “These new streetscapes are also another visual demonstration of how the pandemic has changed our relationships with our streets and our public realm and how our city’s traders have embraced this with gusto over the past 20 months.
"We have to salute their determination and creativity, as they worked with Cork City Council, to achieve funding for these projects.”