THE atmosphere at City Hall was one of pride as Cork’s Special Olympians gathered for a reception before they head to this year’s games in LA next month.

Hosted by, the now former, Lord Mayor Cllr Mary Shields, the event saw six Cork athletes honoured before family and friends.
This year’s Special Olympics event takes place in LA and will feature 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches from across the globe.

The initiative will be the largest sporting event held in the world this year as well as the biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games.President Barrack Obama and his wife Michelle will attend as honorary chairs.

Lord Mayor Cllr Mary Shields addressed guests at the reception saying:
“The most important thing about sport is not winning but getting out there and being part of something. That’s something to be immensely proud of. This is the largest sporting event in the world this year and I know that everyone here today is going to do us proud.”
This year’s Cork contestants representing Ireland in LA will include footballer Colm Monahan from Ballincollig, golfer Trudy Hyland, College Road and gymnast Laura Ahern, Glanmire.
Sean Coleman will be flying the flag for Youghal in swimming with Ballyhea’s Lisa O’Brien going the distance in the 50 metre run.
Aoife O’Sullivan from Ballinlough is also a contestant and hopes to strike gold in the gymnastics category. However, she’s most excited about brushing shoulders with the American president.
“I’ve seen Barrack Obama so many times on the news,” she said. “He really is an American hero. When I see him I’m going to tell him that this is my dream come true.I’ve never been to America before so there are a lot of things to look forward to”
Swimmer Sean also expressed his excitement at meeting the American president. “My favourite part of going to LA will be seeing Barrack Obama,” he said. “I’ve always loved politics.”
Special Olympics coach and golfer Michael Forde emphasised the significance of such an achievement.
“You have to work with the athletes to appreciate just what this means” he said. “Everyone involved realises what an honour this is and is determined to do their best.” Ann O’Brien from Ballyhea was among the parents beaming with pride at the event. Her daughter Lisa will compete in the 25 and 50 meter running race.
“There are a few of us going over including Lisa’s brother Lisa’s brother William who will be travelling all the way from Australia for the event so there will be an international contingent”, she said.
Colm Monahan explained how tough it is to balance a job and volunteer work with his Special Olympian duties.
“I work in Cork Penny Dinners helping wash up and peel the vegetables. I also work at a shop so am up the walls but really glad to be travelling to LA.”

Caption: The former Lord Mayor Cllr Mary Shields with Cork athletics who are on the Irish Special Olympics team, who will compete in Los Angeles this July, Lisa O’Brien, Ballyhea; Laura Aherne, Glanmire; Colm Monahan, Ballincollig; Sean Coleman, Youghal; Aoife O’Sullivan, Ballinlough and Trudy Hyland, college road, with Inspector Ronan Kenneally, Lynda Foley, Michael Forde, hrad golf coach; Julie Dywer, chief medical officer; Padraig Healy and Ted Owens, both Cork Sports Partnership
Picture: Eddie O’Hare

PAT Dawson is the founder of Dawson Travel and chief executive of the Irish Travel Agents’ Association. He was recently appointed to the European Travel Agents and Tour Operators Association (ECTAA) to represent Irish travel agents abroad. He tells Ronan Bagnall about the challenges facing Cork Airport, Cork’s tourism brand and the need to give the city a facelift.
THE head of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) has taken a swipe at the ‘Merchant Princes’ of Cork for allowing sections of the city centre to become shabby and unattractive.
Pat Dawson, founder of Dawson Travel and chief executive of the ITAA, was speaking about the tourism potential of Cork and the drive to increase passenger numbers, particularly inbound visitors, through Cork Airport.

Pat Dawson
He said there was a need to give Cork city a ‘wow factor’ when selling the Cork brand abroad, but this wasn’t helped by unsightly and “filthy” buildings around the city centre.
“You’re talking about  the so-called ‘merchant princes’ who own a lot of the buildings.”
“You see the state of buildings on Patrick Street, Oliver Plunkett Street and Grand Parade. You see grass growing in the windows.
“I’d tell them to tidy up their buildings, paint their doors, be proud of their city. It’s embarrassing, disgraceful. This is city centre Cork.”
Mr Dawson said other second cities across Europe had picturesque retail streets with stylish apartments above the shop units.
“We don’t want to be negative, but you have to be realistic too, Cork is lacking that wow factor to attract visitors.”
Mr Dawson also echoed the views of the managing director of Cork Airport, Niall McCarthy, who recently said that the Cork brand was not known internationally.
This view is reaffirmed by statistics that show two out of every three passengers that use Cork Airport are Irish residents. The inbound tourist market into Cork is therefore seriously under-performing, especially given that the inbound numbers includes Irish people living abroad.
Mr Dawson said it was clear that Cork had a real problem with how it was marketed and sold internationally.
“There is no joined-up thinking in Cork tourism. West Cork tourism is almost distinct from Cork tourism. It’s so splintered.
“It goes right the way back to the old Cork-Kerry tourist board, which did nothing for Cork and everything for Kerry. Cork tourism is all over the place. Who do you even talk to about Cork tourism? Where do you start?
“Unless everyone is joined together as one force it won’t work.
“Airlines and airports say to me that getting inbound people to Cork is a real problem. There must be inbound and outbound passengers.
“Look at the Lisbon route which was axed. There was no effort from the other side to bring Portuguese passengers into Cork.”
“Tourism Ireland should be regionalised so that there is a Munster team selling this region. How do we expect Dublin people to know the ins-and-outs of Cork?”
Mr Dawson said it was unfair to blame the management of Cork Airport for the declining passenger numbers because there had been years of under-performance by the agencies that were established to promote the ‘Cork brand’ internationally.
He said many foreigners were unsure about what Cork was known for, or why they should visit here and he called for a single, unified body to promote Cork tourism abroad.
This view was recently put forward by Kevin Toland, chief executive of the Dublin Airport Authority, which has responsibility for Cork Airport.
Mr Toland said: “There is no doubt that we need more targeted and better promotion of Cork and the south of Ireland region overseas. Google ‘Cork tourism’, for example, and you’ll get competing websites from Cork City Council, Cork County Council, a West Cork tourism site, and a link to Fáilte Ireland’s local information office in Cork city. Search for ‘visit Ireland south’ and it’s no better.”
Meanwhile, Mr Dawson said he was hopeful the Government’s decision to sell its shares in Aer Lingus to the International Airlines Group (IAG) would lead to greater competition and more options for consumers.
He said: “We would be very positive towards it. It will expand the market here again.”
“It will be better for the country, better for tourism.”
“There’ll be more new routes. I would hope Cork and Shannon will get a lift but it’s dog eat dog for new routes.”
Cork Airport is due to announce a new route to Dusseldorf in Germany soon.
Mr Dawson said all new routes need to be heavily marketed and will require a good balance of outbound passengers, inbound passengers, connectivity to other destinations, business travellers and people going on weekend breaks.
On the recent decision of Czech Airlines to pull two routes — Ibiza and Prague — before they even started because of slow pre-order sales, Mr Dawson said:
“I thought they’d needed more money and more marketing put behind it. Somebody said to me that the only time they heard of Cork-Ibiza was when it was cancelled.”
“Really, when you’re launching a new route you have to get in behind it. The travel trade had no meeting about it.”

PROPERTY developer Michael O’Flynn announced that he is building over 90 new apartments in Ballincollig, where he was awarded with a business hall of fame award yesterday.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny presented Mr O’Flynn with the award at the Ballincollig Business Association Awards in the Oriel Hotel.
During his acceptance speech to a crowd of 200 local business and civic leaders, Mr O’Flynn took the opportunity to announce the new development.

“I’m pleased to announce we’re currently finalising a structure that will deliver over 90 apartments from construction through to completion to market within the next six months, in conjunction with Blackstone,” he said.
The apartments – based in the town centre – will come from a mixture of new builds, and completion of works that were halted in recent years.
The Taoiseach congratulated Mr O’Flynn on the new development.
“The O’Flynns were always good builders, and I’m glad you’re back,” he said
Mr O’Flynn also thanked the people of Ballincollig for their support.
“Ballincollig is different. I experienced that last year with the support we got when we were having some difficulties. The support we got locally in Ballincollig was incredible. I love being a part of Ballincollig.”
Also picking up awards at the meeting were O’Connor Pyne & Co for best small to medium business, and VMware for best large business.
Dennehy’s Health and Fitness won best wellness business, while best business innovation went to Cafe Chico in the Ballincollig Regional Park.
O’Crualaoi’s Butchers & Delicatessen was named best high street business, and Bill O’Connell, VP at EMC, was named business person of the year.
Ballincollig Tidy Town’s picked up the award for best civic group, and a special rememberence award was presented to the family of Mary O’Mahony.
Ms O’Mahony was credited with restarting the Ballincollig Business Association and acted as chair before her death in 2013.

Caption: Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, presents the Hall of Fame Award to Michael O’Flynn at the Ballincollig Business Association Awards Dinner at Oriel House Hotel. Included are Bob Savage, CEO EMC; sponsors, Emer Cassidy, Chairperson Ballincollig Business association; Aine Collins, TD and John O’Doherty, Chairman Adjudicating Panel.Picture: Mike English

The new Lord Mayor – the first Sinn Féin mayor elected in Cork for more than 90 years – has pledged to tackle the housing crisis and homelessness as his top priorities for the year ahead.
Cllr Chris O’Leary was elected by 25 votes to four, beating the only other nominee, Anti-Austerity Alliance councillor Marion O’Sullivan, at last night’s Annual General Meeting of Cork City Council.He said: “We are in the midst of the worst housing crisis in modern history. Almost 26,000 people across the city are on the waiting list. We now have families that are sleeping tonight in local hotels because they cannot afford the rent in private accommodation and the council is unable to house them.
“Since 2008 Government funding for social housing has been cut by 90%. The solution to the housing crisis is very simple – we need to build more social houses.
“As Ard-Mhéara, I pledge to use my office to highlight this crisis. To put a human face on the suffering of thousands of families who do not have a home of their own.”
Cllr O’Leary said that he would establish a Cork City Housing Stakeholders Forum to tackle the issue.
He also pledged to the tricolour and the Cork flag flown over City Hall throughout the centenary year of 2016.
He said that Cork City Council would fiercely resist any attempt to reduce its powers in the Department of the Environment’s local government review.Meanwhile,  outgoing Lord Mayor, Cllr Mary Shields, used her farewell address at City Hall to attack any notion that Cork City Council would have its powers reduced in the review of local government.
Cllr Shields said that Cork city needs its boundary to be extended and that the city needed to retain full governance to deliver services for the people of Cork.
She said that highlights of her year as Lord Mayor included visiting 110 schools, the beginning of work on Páirc Ui Chaoimh’s redevelopment, planning permission being granted for the redevelopment of the Capitol Cinema, the ongoing work at Albert Quay and the advancement of the event centre.
She said there were some disappointments to her term as Lord Mayor, including negative headlines around Cork Airport and urged the people of Cork to use the airport more if it was to grow and improve.
She said that two Cork All-Irelands and the granting of the freedom of the city to Niall Tóibín were personally very satisfying, and that it was also gratifying to see confidence restored to the city when it came to business.

Mallow PhD candidate Aoife Murphy will represent Cork at this year’s Rose of Tralee.
The research nutritionist, currently completing her PhD with a scholarship at University College Dublin, was selected at a gala night in the Clayton Hotel Silversprings at the weekend.

The

25-year-old has travelled the world with her PhD research and wowed judges with passion for all things health-related.
The Student Programmes Ireland Ltd-sponsored contestant is actively involved in the Irish University Access programme which enables disadvantaged students to succeed at third level education.
She has won several awards nationally and internationally for her communication skills.
Outgoing Cork Rose, multiple All-Ireland and All-Star winner Anna Geary, reflected about her whirlwind year before Aoife was announced as this year’s winner.
The former Cork camogie captain has seen her national profile rocket in the past year and she will now go on to become a judge on hit RTÉ show, Ireland’s Fittest Family.

*Caption: Cork Rose 2015 Aoife Murphy from Mallow, is all smiles after her selection at the Clayton Hotel, Silver Springs.
Picture: David Keane.

Togher and its surrounding areas need a regeneration package similar to communities on the northside to combat unemployment and to give hundreds of young people a chance.
That is the verdict of independent city councillor and youth worker, Thomas Moloney, who said that the area could become a flagship community if a coordinated approach from Government and community agencies was to be put in place.

He pointed to areas such as Carrigaline and Ballincollig which had Youthreach facilities, saying young people had precious little to keep them off the streets.
He added that what had rejuvenated Knocknaheeny and The Glen was needed for Togher.
“There are many young people in the Togher area that are unemployed and now summer has arrived. Anti-social behaviour will take up garda resources and create bad headlines but that is the reality of the situation. Young people on the whole are marvellously gifted and want to do constructive things – they just need that chance to show their abilities.”
Togher Community Association is hoping that the long-mooted Lehenaghmore Park development can be made priority once again.
The imaginative Lehenaghmore Park plan initially set out to create a development that would cater for up to 17 sporting activities on the scenic 14.5-acre site.

*See today’s Evening Echo for more.

Just  a few weeks remain for students looking to take advantage of the CAO’s change of mind facility and the advice is clear: don’t panic.
Third-level admissions staff and CAO personnel have advised students to remain calm about their choices and not to let exam stress play a role.

Changes can be made to existing CAO applications up until 5.15pm on July 1 and students are being advised to research all options before making any adjustments.
About 60% of students nationwide use the CAO change of mind facility each year.
79,229 applications were made to the CAO by May 1.
Joe O’Grady, general manager of the CAO, encouraged students to focus on their genuine order of preference and not to let fears over exam performance dictate their choices.
“Applicants need to be careful not to make last minute changes to an application based on assumptions about what the points will be, or how well they feel that they have done in their exams. The best advice that we can give applicants is to place their course choices in genuine order of preference.”
Mr O’Grady advised students to take extra care to ensure they are entering the correct course codes.
He also suggested that students who are not making changes to their application should log in to the CAO portal to ensure their choices are in the correct order.
Fiona Grant, senior executive assistant at UCC’s Admissions Office, said that students should ensure they have researched their choices.
This includes the likes of entry-requirements (some courses require specific subjects to have been studied at Leaving Cert level, for example) and details of subjects studied during college. Most third-level institutes have a full break-down of such information on their websites.
Ms. Grant said: “People are in a little bit of a panic right now with the Leaving Cert but we would encourage them to contact us if they have any questions. Make sure you have done the research on the course and, most importantly, make sure your preferences are actually in the order of your preference – don’t try to guess the points.”

A CORK actor who appeared in Game of Thrones is braced for a ‘jaw-dropping’ finale to season five of the smash-hit TV show tonight.
Ciaran Bermingham, who appeared in season one of the HBO show, said it has become a phenomenon, bigger than any expectations the cast and crew had starting out.
Ciaran, from Glanmire, played Mord the violent gaoler in the Eyrie in season one of the show in key scenes with star Peter Dinklage who plays Tyrion Lannister. He said that he never anticipated that the show would be as successful as it is.
“It’s absolutely mental how good it is. You got the feeling on set that it was going to be exciting but I think it has outlived everyone’s expectations. It’s better each season and the finale this year, I think, is going to be jaw-dropping.”
He describes the show as a ‘phenomenon’ that has caught people’s imaginations.
“It is a long time since people waited with such bated breath for a TV show to come on.
“The excitement that builds up when people are waiting and the disappointment at having to wait a whole year for the next lot of episodes – it is absolutely brilliant for a TV show to do that. It is a phenomenon of TV.”

Glanmire actor Ciaran Bermingham who appeared in Series One of the show.

Bermingham hopes to return in future seasons and says producers haven’t ruled it out.
“I’d jump at the chance! You never know. It depends on what way the writing goes.”
Since departing, he has kept in touch with the show and has been particularly impressed with the cast this season.
“I think Stannis is a great character. I think that Liam Cunningham (Ser Davos Seaworth) is doing a great job. I love watching him on screen, his subtleties are so brilliant. Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) just steals the show. I am really impressed with Alfie Allen (Reek/Theon Greyjoy). He is playing that part really well and I think his part is going to become really interesting.”
Ciaran does say, though, that having HBO and such a well-regarded show as Game of Thrones on his CV has opened doors for him.
He is currently starring in Come Dine With Charles Mee as part of the Cork Midsummer Festival, which he will follow up with ‘Lovers – Winners & Losers’ in the Everyman Theatre later this year.
Game of Thrones will be broadcast on Sky Atlantic at 9pm tonight.
Ciaran Bermingham can be seen in Come Dine With Charles Mee in Barden Private Dining Club at 6pm and 9pm next Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

CORK City Council is planning the development of a new data centre in Mahon to increase economic activity in the region.
Such centres are used by companies worldwide to store various types of data including personal emails, photographs, video or business files and are a key component of cloud computing.
A council-owned site next to Mahon’s National Software Centre is earmarked for a new data centre.

The Council-owned site at Lough Mahon Technology Park, next to the National Software Centre has been earmarked for the development of such a data centre.
While Dublin has 14 data centres Cork only has one with demand continuing to grow for such services. Later this year a major new transatlantic cable will land into Cork bringing super-fast internet connectivity to the southern region.
In 2004 Cork City Council completed a fibre optic cable around the city to connect businesses to high speed broadband. It is now felt the addition of another data centre will further strengthen this infrastructure.
Deputy Chief Executive of Cork City Council, Pat Ledwidge, said they will hold a market engagement event in September to assess what level of interest there might be for third party involvement in the project. It is then intended to advertise publicly to seek formal expressions of interest.
“A data centre has a massive impact on the jobs market both within and outside the region of its chosen location. Data centres are key pieces of infrastructure that supports the operations of industries such as Financial Services, Trading and Logistics, IT/Telecommunications and Content/Media,” Mr Ledwidge said.
A data centre facility itself does not require a large on-site operating staff, however the greater impact lies in the jobs its presence creates. These are the employees required to carry out the services which the data centre offers.

SIX teenagers were rescued by Crosshaven RNLI early this morning after a raft they were on drifted out to sea.

One member of the party was in the water when the lifeboat arrived the raft  was dragged  out to sea by the receding tide.

“We received a call out at 6.10 and duly responded. The lifeboat was launched at 6.15,” Patsy Fagan, Deputy Launching Authority at Crosshaven RNLI explained.

“The youths didn’t realise that the tide was going out and got into distress.”

The three girls and three boys were taken aboard the lifeboat “Miss Betty” by Skipper Gary Heslin, accompanied by crew Vincent Fleming and Aoife Dinan.

The group were brought ashore and are said to all be safe and well.

AUTOMATED public toilets, known as ‘superloos’, cost Cork County Council €12 for every time somebody ‘spends a penny’.
The local authority has revealed the high costs of running the automated public toilets, amid appeals for more facilities to be put in place. There are nine local authority superloos in Cork county — one in Ballincollig, one in Monkstown, one in Carrigaline, two in Midleton and four in Youghal — which cost €250,000 per year, for leasing and maintenance. People who are caught short must spend 50 cent, but the total combined income from the nine loos is just €10,000.
The loos have been used 20,000 times, at a cost to the council of €12 per go.
Independent Cllr Noel Collins appealed to council management to install more superloos around the county. He said: “I would ask the council to give consideration to the provision of super-loos in our parks, towns and villages, thus helping to keep Ireland clean and tidy. If the council is not in a position to provide the superloos, may I ask if community leaders will be allowed do the needful and, if so, will planning permission be required?”
Cllr Collins also said the instructions for using the superloos were confusing.
“The guidelines to exit the superloo are confusing for some people. One such case, in recent times, the person inside the loo, by mistake, pressed the wrong button. The door opened, leaving the person sitting on the loo in full view of the passing public.”
A number of councillors highlighted the need for a superloo in Passage West, but the high costs of leasing and maintaining the units were again cited as reason not to install additional units.
Sinn Féin’s Cllr Pat Buckley also cautioned community groups about the costs of the units. He said: “There’s a saying: where there is crap, there is money. I would put a word of caution for community groups who want to install these.”
Maurice Manning, a director of services in County Hall, said there were no plans to increase the number of public toilets.
“The combined annual cost is more than €250,000. The facilities are provided to a high standard of hygiene and fully managed by a contractor, with no ongoing or long-term maintenance costs required from Cork County Council. The combined annual income from all nine toilets is in the region of €10,000,” said Mr Manning.

TRAVELLERS spent their first night in new accommodation in Hollyhill last night.
The Travellers from St Anthony’s Park moved to the nearby €5 million housing scheme yesterday, in what was a major operation.
Superintendent Con Cadogan, Most Rev Dr John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross and Inspector Garry McPolin on Dave McCarthy Road in Hollyhill where Travellers were moving for their halting site to a new housing scheme. Picture: Dan Linehan
Dave McCarthy Road in Hollyhill was closed to traffic yesterday to allow the move go ahead, with more than a dozen Cork City Council officials and 20 gardaí present.
The move was in doubt until recent days, after residents raised concerns about the transfer, including accommodation for horses. However, after negotiations it was announced on Friday that the operation would proceed.
Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley, visited the halting site yesterday morning, with Superintendent Con Cadogan and local parish priest Fr Greg Howard.
He met the families who moved onto the new development, and blessed five different parts of the old site where tragic deaths had occurred.
Bishop Buckley and Fr Howard also visited the new development and blessed a grotto located there.
The new €5m accommodation centre.

Just after 10.30am, the first Travellers began to move to the new multi-million euro development.
The accommodation includes seven fully fitted-out houses between one and four bedrooms in size, nine bays including new mobile homes as well as a separate welfare unit consisting of a kitchen/dining/living area, utility, bathroom and entrance hall.
While the residents would not comment, Traveller Visibility Group spokeswoman Chrissie O’Sullivan said it is hoped the new development will “drastically improve the lives” of the families who have moved there.Superintendent Con Cadogan, Most. Rev. Dr. John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Inspector Garry McPolin on Dave McCarthy Road in Hollyhill where travellers were moving for their halting site to a new housing. Picture Dan Linehan

THE expansion of Cork’s most important employment zone at Ringaskiddy hinges on the installation of controversial traffic lights at the Shannonpark Roundabout, according to a senior planner in County Hall.
Planner Andrew Hind has set out the “economic imperative” of installing six sets of traffic lights at the Shannonpark Roundabout outside Carrigaline – a proposal that’s fiercely resisted by locals and a number of county councillors.
Mr Hind said traffic lights would increase the capacity of the roundabout and thereby remove an obstacle to future industrial development at Ringaskiddy.
The signalisation is being proposed at the roundabout – used by 8,000 vehicles at peak periods – because of the failure to provide a motorway to replace the existing N28 to Ringaskiddy.
The National Roads Authority has said the motorway is six to eight years away.
As things currently stand, An Bord Pleanála would likely refuse planning permission for any further industrial development in Ringaskiddy because of concerns about traffic congestion, according to Mr Hind.
The State’s Industrial Development Authority (IDA) has 170 hectares of land at Ringaskiddy – a strategic employment zone – that it is currently being marketed to international companies. Ringaskiddy already employs 2,845 people in IDA-supported companies, including Pfizer, Janssen, GlaxoSmithKline, and DePuy.
Mr Hind said: “If we don’t have this signalisation of the roundabout we may not be ready to capitalise on an upturn.
“Ringaskiddy is too important to make it dependent on a motorway that may be built in the future.”

“Our concern is that delays at this juncture would be enough to stop An Bord Pleanála from granting planning permission for further employment developments there. That’s the essence of it.”
This will be the third time that Cork County Council and the NRA have sought to impose traffic lights on the Shannonpark Roundabout.
County councillors for the Carrigaline electoral area unanimously rejected previous plans, while 94 of 102 public submissions on the proposal last year were against the traffic lights.
The consensus was that the roundabout worked smoothly and traffic lights would only cause further congestion.
Fianna Fáil cllr Seamus McGrath said it was ludicrous to suggest a few traffic lights could potentially stunt the economic growth of the region.
He said the focus should be on delivering a motorway to Ringaskiddy rather than forcing traffic lights upon people living in the area.
He said: “It’s unfair to be linking the traffic lights to job creation and economic development. I don’t see the correlation and I don’t think it’s right to be doing so.”

THE new Lord Mayor of Cork has urged GAA clubs around Páirc Uí Rinn to open up their grounds for parking on big match days to alleviate disruption to residents.
The Lord Mayor, Cllr Chris O’Leary, said a ‘park and ride’ or ‘park and walk’ service was common in other grounds in the country, such as Croke Park and Semple Stadium, when big games were played.
Residents near Páirc Uí Rinn and Páirc Uí Chaoimh complain of illegal parking on match days.

Cork’s Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium is being redeveloped and will not be in use until May, 2017. This means county finals and home inter-county league matches will be played at Páirc Uí Rinn over the next two years.
Cllr O’Leary said on numerous occasions he had raised the issue of bad parking by match-goers and said a traffic plan was necessary for any big match or event taking place there and should continue once Páirc Uí Chaoimh was completed.
“We have to be mindful that communities are vibrant places, and a lot can be done to overcome tensions over bad parking on sporting and other events,” he said.
“A traffic plan must always be in place, so people know there is an alternative to driving in and parking their car where they like.”
The Lord Mayor said nearby GAA grounds, such as Blackrock, St Michael’s, Mahon and Nemo Rangers could all offer their grounds for parking and then run buses to the main ground.
“Residents have a big issue with illegal parking and you can understand their concern. We need a solution, rather than letting the issue fester and get up people’s noses. More thought needs to be put in for the long-term.”
“I would urge the Cork County Board to engage with clubs on this issue. Parking could be a nominal fee, but would earn a small income.
“Many matchgoers would prefer to know their car is parked safely and not disrupting a resident and be at risk of attracting a parking fine.”
The southern stand of Páirc Uí Chaoimh was recently demolished, in what is a €70m redevelopment.
Piling works are expected to begin shortly, ahead of the construction of the new stand, this year.

LANE adjustments are to be made to the Shannonpark Roundabout outside Carrigaline to clear the way for the development of 200 new homes.
Cork County Council has revealed an amended version of the Shannonpark Masterplan – a blueprint for the development of 1,000 homes on the outskirts of the busy satellite town. The masterplan is broken down into three phases of development – but the first 200 homes can only be built if there are improvements to the Shannonpark Roundabout.
The remaining 800 homes will not be built until there is significant infrastructural investment, which is likely to include the provision of a new motorway to Ringaskiddy.
The homes are to be developed over a 10- to 15-year period by two landowners, initially at a rate of 50 houses per year.
Council officials have said there was now an urgent demand for housing in the Carrigaline area and that a developer was eager to begin work on the project.
The council’s Planning Policy Unit has said the first phase of development can only go ahead if minor works are carried out to the Shannonpark Roundabout.
The roundabout is used by up to 8,000 vehicles during the rush hour period and there are often lengthy queues in the morning and evening.
It’s feared the development of more houses in the region would create chronic congestion.
A transport assessment, carried out for the local authority, found that the development of the first 150/200 houses could proceed if adjustments were made to the approach lanes to the roundabout. These include a two-lane approach to the Shannonpark Roundabout from Ringaskiddy – this additional lane of around 70 metres will serve both left turning and right turning traffic – and the provision of two exiting northbound lanes to Cork that merge prior to the local road.
The masterplan states: “Further development beyond 150-200 houses is likely to give rise to significant impacts on the Shannonpark Roundabout.”
Beyond the initial 200 homes, the council said further infrastructural upgrades will be required to deliver the full 1,000 homes set out in the plan. These include the provision of additional traffic lanes at the Carrig na Curra housing estate, a major upgrade of the Shannonpark Roundabout or the delivery of the M28 motorway.
A public consultation process on the Shannonpark Masterplan is to begin next Monday and a report will be presented to councillors in September on the outcome of these talks.
It is hoped that the masterplan can be cemented into the planning guidelines for the county by the end of the year so the first planning applications can be lodged in 2016.
Separately, there are proposals to install traffic lights on the Shannonpark Roundabout to increase the capacity of the junction for Ringaskiddy-bound traffic.
The traffic light proposals was initially part of the housing masterplan but was later removed after councillors warned that it would create huge opposition during the public consultation phase.
Senior planner Andrew Hind said the traffic lights were an “economic imperative”, in the absence of a full motorway, for the expansion of Ringaskiddy’s strategic employment zone.
Fine Gael councillor John A Collins has spoken of the need for more housing in Carrigaline, saying it was difficult to find any available properties in the tow. He also moved to ease fears that the new housing would swamp the roundabout with extra traffic.
“I have spoken to the developer and there will be around 50 houses built per year to begin with. It’s going to take four or five years to deliver the first 200 homes,” he said.

CORK has been announced as the home for a new €2m testing ground for the emerging Internet of Things industry.
While phones, tablets and computers all maintain constant connections online the Internet of Things (IoT) relates to other everyday objects, like machinery, household appliances and even clothing.
EMC, has teamed up with Vodafone to develop an innovative platform called Infinite – spread across three data centres at EMC, Vodafone and the Cork Internet eXchange (CIX), in Hollyhill. It will be the first large-scale IoT platform in Europe and has been supported by the Department of Jobs through IDA Ireland.
The scale and scope of the project means the platform can be used simultaneously by companies in multiple fields including healthcare, transport, and financial services.
For example, a company could develop IoT solutions to be used in a hospital’s emergency department where sensors in ambulances could provide real-time data, like precise location and patient vitals, providing the medical team adequate time to prepare and drive efficiencies to further improve the serviceLaunching Infinite in Dublin the Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton said:
“The Internet of Things is a fast-growing emerging sector which we have identified as part of our Action Plan for Jobs.
“This is an area which has the capacity not only to transform lives, but also support large numbers of jobs in Ireland,” he said.
“The announcement that EMC and Vodafone have chosen Ireland as the location of this platform is a very exciting development and a great example of what is possible in this area.
“This will make a major difference to our efforts in this area and I look forward to working closely with these two companies as we seek to develop innovative Internet of Things services in Ireland.”.

IRELAND remained “frozen in shock” as the families of the six students who plunged 40 feet to their deaths and the seven others were were injured when a balcony collapsed during a 21st birthday party in the US arrived at the scene this morning.
The six Irish students who died are Eimear Walsh (21), Olivia Burke (21), Ashley Donohoe (22), Lorcan Miller (21) Nic Schuster (21) and Eoghan Culligan.
The young people who perished in the horrific tragedy were from south Dublin and had gone to Berkeley, California, to start a dream trip on popular summer working holiday visas. They were students at UCD, DIT and NUIG.
They were named as Ashley Donohoe, 22, and Olivia Burke, Eoghan Culligan, Niccolai Schuster, Lorcan Miller and Eimear Walsh, who were all 21.
Ms Donohoe was an Irish-American from, California, and a cousin of Olivia Burke.
Four of the students died at the scene, with two others losing their fight for life shortly afterwards in hospital. They died from multiple blunt traumatic injuries, according to the coroner’s bureau at Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
Their devastated parents were met on arrival at the airport this morning and taken to the mortuary while the families of the injured were taken to their bedsides in hospital.
Of seven who were seriously injured, two remain critical and five are said to be stable, but are believed to have life changing injuries.
The father-of-one of those injured, Trinity Student Clodagh Cogley, said it was a miracle his daughter was alive.
Niall Cogley said it was an absolute tragedy for all the families involved.
Philip Grant, consul general with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs in the region, said the tragedy touched everyone in Ireland.
“For many of my countrymen (the visa working holiday) is a formative experience and to have this happen at the start of this season is something that has left us all frozen in shock and disbelief,” he said.
Many of the students who had been attending the party were past pupils of St Mary’s College in Rathmines, south Dublin.
University College Dublin president, Andrew Deeks, sent a message of condolence to the family and friends of those who died.
“We cannot comprehend the desperate shock and grief they are feeling and we are heartbroken at their suffering and loss,” he said.
“Our students, like thousands of others across Ireland, head to the US each summer on J1 visas to enjoy the experience.
“It is heartbreaking to imagine that such a tragedy would strike these wonderful students when their lives are opening up to discover the world.”
Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Paul Colton, also extended his thoughts and prayers to everyone caught up in the horror accident.

EIGHTY new jobs at a medical devices company in Ringaskiddy were announced today as part of a €53.2m investment.
The jobs will be at the DePuy medical device company, which has opened a new manufacturing facility at a former Pfizer plant in Ringaskiddy.
The 320,000 sq ft plant was bought by DePuy to expand its current workforce of 800 people in Cork.
It is located just a few hundred yards from the existing DePuy plant.
Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said: “These are high value jobs.”

The new plant is part of the DePuy Synthes company and includes a medical devices test method centre and a centre of excellence laboratory.
The original Cork plant opened in 1997.
DePuy is part of the Johnson & Johnson global group which employs more than 2,500 people in Ireland.
“The investment by DePuy creates potential for further expansion in the years ahead. It’s a really strong endorsement of the Cork region as a place to secure a highly-skilled workforce.”
DePuy produces orthopaedic products for the medical industry, particularly artificial joints such as hips, knees and shoulders.
The new plant is part of the DePuy Synthes company and includes a medical devices test method centre and a centre of excellence laboratory.
The original Cork plant opened in 1997.
DePuy is part of the Johnson & Johnson global group which employs more than 2,500 people in Ireland

The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Chris O’Leary will travel to Berkeley tomorrow to pass on the condolences of the people of Cork and offer support to the Irish community following yesterday’s balcony tragedy.

Cllr O’Leary was already travelling to nearby San Francisco for a conference as Cork is twinned with the city.

At 1.15pm this afternoon the Lord Mayor will also open a book of condolences in the Atrium of City Hall for the friends and families of the students involved in the tragedy.

“I have already spoken to the Ard Mhéara [Lord Mayor] of Dublin and offered my condolences on behalf of the people of Cork,” Cllr O’Leary said. “He was very heartened by that offer and thanked us for our kind words. As I am travelling to San Francisco tomorrow I also said I would be travelling to Berkeley and would offer whatever support I could to the Irish community there and said I would do the same for the people of Dublin.”

The Lord Mayor said his office was invited to San Francisco in January by the Mayor Edwin Lee to attend the United States Conference of Mayors which happens every ten years. The conference discusses issues such as housing, dereliction, smart cities, homelessness and other issues affecting cities.

The Lord Mayor will be joined on the trip by the Council’s head of Environment Jim O’Donovan.

CONSTRUCTION of a new entrance to Kent Railway Station will begin next month.

The new building will be located on the southern side of the tracks and will open onto Horgan’s Quay.

The new look entrance of Kent station. Pictures from Irish Rail.

Its purpose is to create a better link between the station and the city centre for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users.

The existing entrance from the Lower Glanmire Road will also be maintained and will mean the station will have two concourses and ticket halls.

The new entrance building will include information systems, public address system, ticket vending machines, seating, commercial advertising and the provision for potential future retail locations.

It will also include an underground link that will connect up to the southern end of the existing underpass which passengers currently use to walk underneath the main tracks and access the southern platform.

A new two-way road will also be built from the current entrance to the station’s carpark at the junction of Railway Street and Alfred Street, through to Horgan’s Quay where a new entrance will be made by demolishing a section of the wall.

The new road will incorporate traffic lights, traffic calming features, pavements, bus stops with shelters, cycle parking with shelters and taxi set-down. Street lighting, bollards, storm water drainage and perimeter railings. The carpark, with 140 spaces will be accessed from Horgans Quay.

It is also planned to extend the new cycle lanes built on the Lower Glanmire Road opposite the Coliseum along Alfred Street to connect up with the new road.

Irish Rail had already been granted planning permission for a new entrance in 2013 but the company lodged revised plans last year for a more simplified and cost efficient development.

A spokesperson for Irish Rail said that the construction work would begin in July and will take 12 months to complete.