Plans lodged for new ziplining adventure centre in East Cork
Plans for a new adventure centre in East Cork have been submitted to the county council.
Developer Zipit Forest Adventures Ltd has sought planning permission to install an adventure activity course on Fota Island.
The proposed course will include a net adventure area, multi-activity area, tubing course, zip lines, a low ropes area, and ancillary activities.
Permission is also being sought for a single-storey reception cabin and a single-storey staff welfare cabin, toilet facilities and all associated site and ancillary works on land at Fota Island, Carrigtwohill. The proposed site lies within the curtilage of Fota House, which is a Recorded Protected Structure.
Zipit Forest Adventures is a seasonal ropes business with locations across Cork, Dublin, Roscommon and an office in Waterford. It was acquired by Cork-based Cool Runnings Events in 2021, leading to the merging of two family businesses.
Headquartered in Little Island, Cool Runnings is known for both zip-lining and for its seasonal ice rink attractions and has been operating since 2007.
Cork County Council are due to decide on the case by July 1, 2025.
Meanwhile, plans for 90 new homes in Cork City have been approved by An Bord Pleanála.
Cork City Council initially granted permission in January last year to developer Lyonshall Limited to demolish an existing dwelling and construct 90 new homes at 'Villa Maria' and adjacent lands at Skehard Road in Cork.
The proposed development consisted of 26 one-bed units and 48 two-bed units across three apartment buildings, ranging from four to five storeys in height. It also included 12 two-storey townhouses, comprising five two-bed units and seven three-bed units, as well as four two-bed duplex units.
However, the plans were appealed to An Bord Pleanála following concerns that the development would have negative impacts on the character of the local area, its amenities and its density.
However, siding with the council, An Bord Pleanála granted permission for the development with 25 conditions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
8 hours ago
- The Journal
John Magnier advisor denies being 'kept in the loop' about Tipperary land owners' tax affairs
A SENIOR ADVISOR to bloodstock billionaire John Magnier has denied that he was 'kept in the loop' regarding the tax affairs of the owners of a large tract of land in Tipperary that his boss wanted to buy. Eddie Irwin, the financial advisor at the Coolmore Stud, which Magnier founded, rejected a description of him by counsel for Barne Estate, Martin Hayden SC, as Magnier's 'fixer' and 'right-hand man'. He said Coolmore did not use 'catchphrases or fancy titles' but agreed with counsel that he would be called to work on projects if things went 'wrong'. Irwin, who has 40 years' experience working with Magnier, was called in to aid in securing the Barne Estate deal, which the Magniers believed they had shaken hands on in August 2023 for €15m. However, the Magnier side was ultimately gazumped by Irish-born, US-based construction magnate Maurice Regan, who offered €22.25m. The case centres on Magnier's claim that Regan engaged in a 'full-frontal assault' on the claimed deal to buy the 751-acre tract and that Barne Estate reneged on the deal. The Estate has been held for the benefit of Richard Thomson-Moore and others by a Jersey trust. At the High Court yesterday, Irwin said he met with the benefactor in September 2023 and contacted tax experts from KPMG after the family requested advice. A KPMG tax expert met with the Thomson-Moore family later in the month as a 'favour' to Coolmore, who were large clients of KPMG. Irwin did not attend that meeting, but allegedly sent a WhatsApp message to Magnier claiming that the Thomson-Moores were considering whether to retain the tax expert from KPMG, who was named in court. Advertisement He added that the expert had informed the Thomson-Moore family of what approach he recommended. He denied making an 'off-the-record' remark that the expert would keep him 'in the loop' in return for introducing him to the family. Irwin said that the wording of a WhatsApp message to Magnier, telling him 'off the record' about the family's intention to retain the man, was 'unfortunate' and that what he meant was for Magnier not to share the information. Irwin told counsel that the named expert was an 'innocent, decent and honourable' man, who was being 'defamed' in the court as someone who would keep him 'in the loop' on private tax matters. He said that he did have 'grave' concerns over the tax issue raised by the Thomson-Moore family at the time as it was just before the end of an exclusivity agreement and may not have been a genuine one. Irwin said he sought legal advice following the expiration of the agreement, on 23 September 2023, after he claimed that Regan had contacted Magnier's son-in-law 'angry and abusive' over the handshake deal and said he would outbid the pact by €5m. In early October 2023, with the exclusivity agreement now expired, the local estate agent involved in the sale told the Magniers that the Barne Estate had been subject to a €20m bid. The Magnier side then upped their bid to €16m with a separate, additional offering of €500,000 to establish a trust for a member of the Thomson-Moore family. Irwin said he was told by the auctioneer that the Thomson-Moore's were happy to accept the offer. But the Barne Estate solicitors never sent the contracts and the deal was never done. The Magnier side has sued the Barne Estate, Thomson-Moore and three companies of IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group, seeking to enforce the purported deal, which they say had been 'unequivocally' agreed. The Barne defendants say there was never any such agreement, as they needed the consent of trustees to finalise any agreement, and subsequently they preferred to sell the estate to Regan, who is not a party to the case. The case continues before Mr Justice Max Barrett next month. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
12 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Rocky road: Plan to develop 'torturous' Cork to Limerick route
One of the country's best-known rugby players recently called it a "torturous b**tard of a road" and anyone who drives the Cork to Limerick road on a regular basis cannot but agree. A regular traveller to Thomond Park from his home in Cork, former Ireland and Munster player Peter O'Mahony was just nine years old when an upgrading of the Cork to Limerick road was first mooted in 1998. He's now 35 years old, a family man with an illustrious career and the road remains for all intents and purposes unchanged - a hotchpotch of dangerous bends, climbing lanes, limited sections of dual carriageway, with some 625 access points along it. Jari Howard, who heads up the N/M20 Cork to Limerick Motorway Project said Mr O'Mahony's comments "hit a real note with ourselves and landowners along the way". "I think he summed it up well. I won't repeat the phrase - people have heard it enough - but it is a stressful road to do, especially if you have to do it on a regular basis," said Mr Howard. Over the past three decades, some 70 people have lost their lives in road traffic related incidents along the route, Mr Howard said. The road is considered one of the most dangerous in the country. Mr Howard heads up the team charged with developing the design and business case for a new 80km dual carriageway and motorway between the country's second and third most populous cities. This week he briefed more than 100 public representatives from both counties on the final design which, if approved, will cut travel times between the two cities by 30 minutes, with a completion date of 2035. Mr Howard confirmed that the chosen route - which it is estimated to cost between €1bn-€3bn - will impact on some 200 farms, and up to 20 houses. "All of this is impactful to the landowners and homeowners but we try to work with them to come up with designs, and mitigation in accommodation works which help minimise that impact. "There will be points that there will be disagreement [on] and that's part of the statutory process when we go to An Bord Pleanála but they [the landowners and householders] can voice their concerns with those issues and they can be looked at by the board and then obviously afterwards, if we are successful in planning, there is a process there for valuation and compensation." The final route includes an 80km motorway from Blarney where the existing dual carriageway is into Cork City, and up to the existing M20 at Patrickswell. There will be a dual carriageway/motorway all the way with 100km of three-metre wide active travel paths for walking and cycling, some near the new motorway and others on the existing N20, which will be declassified. Seven transport hubs will be created along the route at Rathduff, Mourneabbey, Mallow, Buttevant, Charleveille, Bruree and Croom with a freight hub earmarked for Mallow. Following Monday's briefing of public representatives, the project team held public meetings in Charleville, Adare and in Mallow to brief the public. "The whole detail is there [on the displays] from fence to drainage ponds, accommodation under and over passes, where we are re-aligning local roads or creating new local roads, particularly south of Mournabbey where we are widening the existing N20 and we have to connect the existing farms and properties because they won't be able to access directly. "So that's 625 entrances and junctions along the N20 that we are taking down to nine. Nine strategic junctions so people will travel to these junctions to get onto the motorway from there," said Mr Howard. The project also includes the construction of six new road bridges, eight new river bridges, two new railway bridges and up to 60km of associated local roads. The business case for the upgrade to motorway status will go to the Department of Transport for both departmental and external review later this year, and subject to approval, Transport Infrasture Ireland will apply for planning permission for the work in 2026. "We would hope that by 2027 we have planning, and in 2028 we can start breaking ground and do the enabling works. Our plan for this (project) is that it will be constructed in a number of contracts - three to four contracts - broken up logically wherever the new road meets the old road. "We believe the first priority should be the bypasses of Charleville, Buttevant and Mallow. We see them going first, followed soon after from Mourneabbey to Blarney, and then from Croom to Patrickswell." This is welcome news for the residents of all three towns, especially Charleville where in the past decade, ten pedestrians have died on the town's main street after being struck by vehicles. Eight of these involved heavy goods vehicles, while the majority of incidents involved elderly pedestrians. While it will be at least 2031 - another six years - before any of the bypasses are scheduled to open, Evelyn O'Keeffe of the Charleville Community Forum said they welcome the decision to give priority to the bypasses. But she hopes the Government will commit to construction funding. "They've committed to all the other studies - environmental, route, but, as yet, we haven't seen any funding ring-fenced for the construction phase," she said. In the interim, she is now calling on Cork County Council to implement safety measures on the town's main street until the bypass opens. Cork Chamber have also expressed hope that the Government will provide the necessary construction funding saying it is vital they commit to it, and to delivering the route on time. CEO Conor Healy said: "This long-awaited project has the potential to transform connectivity in the southern region, enhancing Ireland's overall economic competitiveness and unlocking opportunities for investment and development in the south of Ireland. "It is vital that Government commits to funding and delivering the M20 in line with the projected timelines to provide certainty for local communities, businesses and other stakeholders." But confirmation that the route will be tolled has raised the hackles of some public representatives. Both Cork North Central TDs - Thomas Gould of Sinn Féin and Labour's Eoghan Kenny told the Cork Echo they would strongly oppose any planned toll. As the project team prepares to move to the next stage and submit its business plan to theGovernment before the end of the year, Jari Howard said large projects like these take time but "we design bridges and roads for 120 years - they are there for a long time but we are as keen as anyone else to get in, get started. Planning is the key and then we can really get going". "You can see what is happening with the Adare Bypass and the Ringaskiddy Bypass - those projects took a lot of time to get to fruitition but once they are going, people are just so happy to see that work going on," he added.
Irish Examiner
19 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Esther McCarthy: Survival tips for the holiday campsite jungles
Husband and I went to a wedding last year near Tarragona in Spain. It might have been the heady thrill of being away on our own without the kids for the first time in a looong time, but we were charmed by the whole area. 'We should come back here with the kids,' my husband says, over our fourth cocktail on the rooftop bar, next to the pool. ' Absorlutely,' I slur, chasing my straw around the hollowed-out coconut. ' Leshts DO IT!' After determining that we weren't so sloshed that we were going to cough up for a H10 hotel stay for five of us, I leave it to husband to book it. 'There's a cool-looking camping resort near enough, will we go with that?' he asks. ' YESH,' says I, falling headfirst into the pool with piña colada dribbling down my chin. And then I forgot all about it until it was time to stress pack the bags and find the EHIC cards (two out of five ain't bad) and get ourselves to the airport. I thought we were very savvy, finding an off-the-beaten-track paradise for our 10-day escape. It's such a short plane ride, I marvel, Cork direct to Reus, then not even a 20-minute commute to the campsite. Clever us! 'Fair play, husband,' I nudge him, impressed. The last time I organised a trip, we stayed in five different French campsites in 10 days, and it nearly broke him. So I have to give him his dues. 'Apparently,' he says proudly, 'there's a cool water park very close by, and one of the world's top five tallest and fastest roller-coasters. We'll have to go there.' 'Hmm,' I frown. 'Seems like something that would attract a lot of people.' Here we were, thinking we'd discovered a hidden gem. Nope. The camping site is Sanguli — half of Cork is there, and the other half was there before, or is planning it. So, for the seven people who haven't yet had the pleasure, here's a little advice if you're visiting Sanguli or Cambrils campsites in Salou. (They're next door to each other, Cambrils is more suited for younger kids.) Wear your good togs Be prepared to meet randomers at the pool. There's nothing worse than feeling exposed with someone you usually see when you're both wrapped in thermal layers at the side of a pitch. You don't want to be chatting to the fella who coaches the U10s hurling in your threadbare swimming cossie from 1997. It's bad enough he's in budgie smugglers and you have to keep squinting up at the sun to avoid his happy trail. He may have played county, but that was a long time ago, bud. Join the private Facebook group I came for the book swap and stayed for the LOLs. It's mainly people posting pictures of the food they're unhappy with on site — one lady had a picture of the cheesy garlic bread and it was a bread roll with an easy single folded in. The outrage was gold. People will post pics of things they're leaving too, handy for recycling floats and barbecues and soap. People are obsessed with airfryers — one wag photoshopped a load of airfryers free to take away outside a cabin. The comments from the people who didn't get it was a joke were the best reading I've had in years. Do not pay full price to go to PortAventura World and, if you're going to Ferrari Land, bring a change of underwear This is a combination of three parks — PortAventura Park, Ferrari Land, and Caribe Aquatic Park. We changed our Lidl Plus card from Ireland to Spain and got a coupon for 30% off for Caribe. You're not allowed bring food or balls in, both of which are prerequisites for going anywhere with our three boys, so we had to abandon the ball, and scoff the food in a panic crouch while maintaining eye contact with security, like sunburnt raccoons at a picnic. Go early, as queues get longer as the day goes on. Ferrari World next door opens at 4.30pm so we pop in there for a lark. We forget to do the discount for that one — it's about €100 for the five of us. We start queuing for Red Force. It takes about two hours. The giga rollercoaster is 112m high and goes from 0 to 180km/h in five seconds. I don't think I need that kind of thrill in my life, do I? But the boys kind of bundle me on when we finally get to the top. 'Err, I'm not sure about thi…' And we are off. Apparently, Marc Gené, Ferrari test driver, has said a ride on Red Force is the closest thing to being in a Formula 1 racing car, since its acceleration and G-force are very similar. Well, Mr Gené, let me tell you this — G-force + massive height = mammy go black out. I remember screaming, having a nice little faint for myself, then opening my eyes at the apex of the ride, screaming again, then the boys helping my quivering form out to make way for the next bunch of lunatics to stare into the maws of death. The whole thing takes under two minutes. 'Are you OK, Mom?' asks the 10-year-old. 'Check the carriage behind us,' I whimper. 'I think my tits are still in there.'
