April

Call to hold firm a little longer

Several agencies across Cork urge the public to stay at home and stay safe as the Easter Bank Holiday approaches.

As households plan to celebrate the important day, representatives of the HSE, An Garda Síochána, Cork City Council and Cork County Council come together to remind everyone that although it’s difficult, there can be no gatherings indoors.

They ask the people of Cork to “hold firm for a little longer” on what they believe are tough but necessary measures to make sure the country doesn’t undo the progress made in recent months.

Works to begin to pedestrianise 17 city centre streets

Works to improve street surfaces prepare to get underway as part of Cork City Council plans to permanently pedestrianise 17 streets across the city centre.

The council says it will begin work on resurfacing Caroline Street, Pembroke Street, Oliver Plunkett Street, Cook Street and Maylor Street in the coming weeks.

Similar works later begin on Paul Street, St Peter and Paul’s Place, Little Ann Street and Little Cross Street.

The move towards pedestrianisation comes as a result of the Reimagining Cork City programme, which closed off many streets in the city centre to vehicles during summer 2020 to facilitate social distancing and outdoor dining.

Urine trouble if caught short

The lack of public toilets on Leeside makes a splash as councillors call for more of the amenities to be installed around the city.

Independent councillors Lorna Bogue and Mick Finn each have motions calling for more public toilets during a meeting of Cork City Council in light of bars and restaurants being closed under Covid-19 regulations.

Cllr Bogue says the current lack of facilities is creating an accessibility issue while Cllr Finn suggests the new toilets could be funded by Government as part of its Covid-19 response.

Bergin takes over as chair of it@cork

Independent, not-for-profit group it@cork appoints Gillian Bergin, Senior Consultant in Global Business Transformation at Dell Technologies as its new chair.

The organisation represents the interests of the tech industry throughout Cork and the south west region which employs an estimated 30,000 people.

Stepping down from the role is Anthony O’Callaghan who hails the new chair as an experienced, generous, creative and tireless leader.

Having already been part of the organisation for eight years, Ms Bergin says she is “deeply honoured” to take on the position.

Mother appeals to exhume daughter

“Where she’s buried and how she’s buried and who she’s buried with, just gives me a great deal of stress.”

The words of Rebecca Saunders speaking about exhuming her daughter’s body from Cork and bringing it home to the US.

Rebecca had married farmer Martin McCarthy having met him in 2004 when she came to West Cork for an eight-week study abroad programme. He was 42 and she was 16 when they met.

They had a child together named Clarissa but the marriage fell apart shortly after and Rebecca asked for a divorce.

On the day she’d sought legal action, it was discovered that Martin had drowned their daughter and then himself at Audley Cove on 5 March 2013.

The latest update from Rebecca on a GoFundMe page raising funds for the exhumation is issued on 5 August 2021 stating that she is “still in the process of trying to get the blessing to exhume Clarissa”.

St Kevin's project gets green light

Planning permission is granted to give the landmark St Kevin’s red brick building a new lease on life after being gutted by a fire four years ago.

The Land Development Agency (LDA) receives permission to develop 266 homes, an enterprise centre and creche facilities at the Shanakiel site.

The development is to consist of a mix of town houses and duplex apartments including one, two, three and four-bedroom homes.

The primary focus of the development will be social and affordable housing.

The LDA says the development will have a strong focus on sustainability, with public transport links to the city and to other local amenities.

The development is also promised to have more than twice as many spaces for bicycles than cars.

‘Brightest star’ is laid to rest

Mourners say their final goodbyes to “gorgeous, handsome and roguish” Conor King as he is laid to rest on what would have been his 23rd birthday.

Those attending the funeral mass at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Rochestown hear how Conor, who was a trained lifeguard, adored the sea and spent his final hours doing what he loved with his closest friends.

“He was our brightest star. Conor succeeded in squashing 100 years into 23 years. Happy 23rd birthday our beautiful boy,” say Conor’s parents Maura and Eamonn and sister Áine. Conor, who was from Douglas and was an avid rugby fan and player, died tragically after falling into a blowhole at Garretstown Beach near the Old Head of Kinsale where he was camping with friends.

It is understood Mr King died instantly from head injuries sustained from his fall.