Residents' dismay at Murphy’s Rock plans

Proposed plans to build up to 4,000 social and affordable homes at a popular green space in Cork city have been described as “ridiculous” by a local resident.

Grainne Byrne, a spokesperson for the Murphy’s Rock and Bride Valley Support Group, said residents are absolutely not against the building of social and affordable homes.

However, the Land Development Agency’s (LDA) identification of Murphy’s Rock as being suitable for housing development has prompted residents to voice their dismay at the potential destruction of what they consider an invaluable amenity for the northside of Cork city.

“There's an enormous amount of social housing up in Blackpool and in Ballyvolane and we're not objecting to any of that,” Ms Byrne told the Cork Independent.

“Our problem here is the location, it's just so pristine, it's ridiculous to be looking at it for housing development,” she added.

Murphy’s Rock, which is in an area in Cork city known as Kilbarry, is described by residents as a “pristine natural habitat of about 100 acres” that has not been touched in over a century.

Last year, part of the lands at Kilbarry were identified in the Government’s Housing for All Plan for transfer to the LDA to support the provision of new affordable and social homes. The LDA is now planning to carry out assessments and surveys at Kilbarry to gain a better understanding of the site’s potential in addition to constraints and other infrastructure considerations.

Following a meeting with the LDA, the Murphy’s Rock and Bride Valley Support Group sent a letter the Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste Michael Martin, Minister Dara O’Brien, and John Coleman, CEO of the LDA, outlining their opposition to the proposed plans.

In the letter, the group said: “We strongly believe that any development should cease in Murphy’s Rock until the Local Area Plan for Blackpool/Kilbarry is completed and the public have a chance to review how they see this area being developed.

“We understand this Local Area Plan is currently being compiled by the Cork City Council with a plan to go to public consultation. The development of Murphy’s Rock as a public amenity as ‘a wilder space’ is essential to public wellbeing and has been proposed under this plan.”

Ms Byrne said she understands that the LDA is looking at a number of other locations not far from Murphy’s Rock that would be far better suited for development and would result in little or no public outcry.

She continued: “It's an accessible green space, it's an area people go to walk their dog, they bring their kids down, they picnic there – it's generational.

“There are wetlands, there's a river, there's a hazel wood, there's meadows, so it's quite a diverse area.

“We are not anti-social housing, we're not anti-housing, it’s just the wrong place,” she added.

The LDA said in a statement to the Cork Independent that once assessments and surveys have been carried out and next steps are understood, the LDA will progress consultation and stakeholder engagement on the vision and plan for the site’s future use.

“The LDA intends to develop a robust and proactive Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement Plan and issue clear communications to ensure all interested stakeholders and parties are included and aware of any proposed plans. The LDA has already met and is involved in ongoing consultation and engagement with locals and relevant stakeholders,” the statement said.