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Irish Examiner
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
New Lord Mayor of Cork vows to make city centre safer with 'decisive action'
The new Lord Mayor of Cork has vowed to work to make the city centre safer and to make historic City Hall more accessible to citizens. Fianna Fáil councillor Fergal Dennehy, who represents the city's south west local electoral area, made the pledge after his election at the annual general meeting of Cork City Council on Friday night, which was attended by his party leader and Taoiseach, Micheál Martin. 'Cork's heart must be a place where everyone feels welcome and secure,' Togher-based Mr Dennehy said. 'By working closely with An Garda Síochána, businesses, and community groups, we will maintain confidence and vibrancy to our city centre. 'I welcome the recent appointment of a council director with specific responsibility for the city centre and also the collaboration with the Cork Business Association to provide city centre wardens. 'I will work closely with all of the stakeholders to achieve our goals here to make our city even safer.' Mr Dennehy, a father of two, was first elected to council in 2004 but lost his seat in 2009. He won it back in 2014 and has retained it since. He was nominated for the position, and faced a vote against Solidarity Cllr Brian McCarthy and Sinn Féin Cllr Michelle Gould. He secured 23 votes, against five for Ms Gould and two for Mr McCarthy, and took the chain of office some 42 years after his father, former Fianna Fáil TD, John Dennehy, was elected lord mayor, leading the city through the Cork 800 celebrations. 'Your leadership and collaboration with businesses and communities laid the foundation for a year of pride and achievement that still resonates in Cork,' Mr Dennehy said. Thank you for your continued service and dedication to our city and of course thank you for everything that you have done for me as my father in both my political and personal life. They are the third father and son duo to hold the mayoral office in recent years — following on from John and Brian Bermingham, and Danny and Damian Wallace. There were cross-party tributes to outgoing Lord Mayor Dan Boyle, and deputy Lord Mayor, Honore Kamegni, for their work over the last 12 months. In his speech, Mr Dennehy said the city stands at a crossroads, facing challenges in housing and transport that demand 'bold vision and decisive action'. 'With a huge projected population growth in the coming years, we must ensure every citizen has access to quality social and affordable housing,' he said. He said transport projects such as the Luas light rail and BusConnects must serve all residents equitably and protect our environment for generations to come, and he cited the potential of Cork docklands, but said growth must be inclusive, lifting all citizens, and all communities. 'For me, Cork has always been about its people and communities,' he said. 'Everything we do as a city council must be guided by their needs and aspirations. 'I will continue to work closely with community groups, sporting organizations, our elected representatives and the voluntary sector to strengthen the bonds that have already made this city so special.'
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘Mahon Point 2.0' promises more apartments, office and retail spaces and jobs
Management says the project has been designed with inspiration from the '15-minute city' model, which enables residents to live, work, shop, and socialise within walking or cycling distance. Named Mahon Point 2.0, it will bring 251 new apartments, in a range of household sizes, with access to open space, play areas, and recreational amenities. Justin Young, centre director at Mahon Point Shopping Centre, said: 'For the last 20 years, Mahon Point Shopping Centre has been the heart and meeting place for Mahon's community and the wider region. We are excited to present a demand-led expansion that enhances Mahon for everyone and looks forward to the next 20 years. 'By placing homes, sustainable transport, and civic amenities at the core of this vision, we hope to create a new chapter in Cork's growth that reflects community values as much as economic ambition.' The development, which will create 365 construction jobs, will also include a purpose-built crèche supporting 64 child spaces. It will also feature a new market square and civic plaza to host the Mahon Point Farmers Market, public events and community activities New retail space will feature with 3,000 sqm to be developed along with a new office block offering over 70,000 sq ft of workspace. Transport will be central to the development with the construction of a multi-storey Car Park with 704 spaces, enhanced pedestrian and cycle infrastructure, segregation from vehicle traffic via an underpass, and future-proofed connectivity for light rail (Luas-style) and BusConnects services. Peter O'Meara, director at real estate company Savills Ireland, said: 'Cork is emerging as an international centre of scale, with a projected population growth of 50-60pc by 2040. With strong demand across residential and retail sectors, this development answers the call for high-quality, integrated spaces that serve both current and future generations.' Members of the public are invited to attend a Public Information Event on the proposed Mahon Point 2.0 development, taking place on Tuesday, July 8 from 4pm to 7pm in the Community Room at Mahon Point Shopping Centre. This event will give local residents, businesses and others the opportunity to learn more about the plans, meet the project team, and ask questions in an informal setting.
Dublin Live
10-06-2025
- Dublin Live
Dublin Bus route to be expanded from next weekend
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A Dublin Bus route that was launched earlier this year will be expanded from next weekend. Route L14 will be expanded to Cherrywood via Shankill from Sunday June 15th. The L14 will now connect Southern Cross, Bray, Palermo, Shankhill, Loughlinstown, Laughanstown and Cherrywood, including Green Line Luas. The enhancement nearly doubles the coverage area of the bus route which was rolled out as part of Phase 6A of BusConnects in January. The extension will deliver a bus service for residents in the area of Laughanstown, supporting the area's rapid growth and the ongoing development of new homes. The route will continue to operate every half an hour seven days a week, offering 35 return services Monday to Friday. The service will also continue to operate 32 return services on Saturdays, with 30 return services on Sundays and public holidays, ensuring enhanced transport connections for both weekdays and weekends. Jeremy Ryan, Director of Public Transport Services at the National Transport Authority, said: 'Building on the success of the initial launch of the L14 under Phase 6A of BusConnects in January, we've taken on board valuable customer feedback highlighting the need for stronger onward connectivity. "In response, we're pleased to announce that Route L14 will now extend to serve Cherrywood, Shankill, and connect with the Luas Green Line – making the serviced more accessible and convenient for our passengers.' Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Dublin Live
31-05-2025
- Dublin Live
Dublin Bus announce extension of new bus route which will link up Bray with Luas
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Dublin Bus have announced the extension of the new L14 bus route, which will link up Bray and Shankill with Cherrywood and the Green Line Luas. The extended service will begin operating this Sunday. The route change comes after much local consternation with the recent new BusConnects rollout in the area in January, which left Bray and Shankill without a direct route to Cherrywood and a link up with the Luas. The route, which previously just served local roads between Palermo and the Southern Cross in Bray, has now doubled in length, and will serve Shankill and Loughlinstown before heading to Cherrywood. It will also now serve the emerging area of Laughanstown, where a lot of new homes are currently being built. There is no change to the route's timetable, meaning the route will continue to operate every half an hour seven days a week, offering 35 return services Monday to Friday, 32 return services on Saturdays, and 30 return services on Sundays and public holidays. The route will now also provide a link between the Luas and the Dart at Bray station. Director of Public Transport Services at the National Transport Authority Jeremy Ryan said: 'Building on the success of the initial launch of the L14 under Phase 6A of BusConnects in January, we've taken on board valuable customer feedback highlighting the need for stronger onward connectivity. In response, we're pleased to announce that Route L14 will now extend to serve Cherrywood, Shankill, and connect with the Luas Green Line – making the serviced more accessible and convenient for our passengers.' Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Construction contract for first BusConnects corridor to be signed next month
The construction contract for the first new bus corridor under the BusConnects programme in Dublin is due to be signed next month, according to the National Transport Authority (NTA) . Construction of the first two corridors had been due to start this autumn, but it is understood the NTA now expects to be in a position to move forward at an earlier stage. The first corridors to get under way will be the Liffey Valley to city centre route and the Ballymun/Finglas to city centre scheme. Representatives of the NTA, including its interim chief executive Hugh Creegan , will appear before the Oireachtas Transport Committee on Wednesday. READ MORE They are due to tell the committee that planning consent has been received from An Bord Pleanála for all 12 BusConnects corridors, though judicial reviews have been initiated against some of these approvals. [ Final BusConnects corridor secures planning permission Opens in new window ] The construction contract for the first corridor is to be signed in June, their opening statement to TDs says. The construction of all of the 12 corridors could impact on more than 700 properties, according to the latest estimates from the NTA, with more than 3,000 trees potentially felled and 827 parking spaces lost. Separately, the NTA will tell the committee that work is ongoing to 'further develop and refine the design' of MetroLink and to prepare tender documentation for the three major contracts that will deliver the overall project. 'It is understood that the Government will be considering the MetroLink project during the preparation of the new National Development Plan,' the NTA's opening statement says. [ Dublin's new bus routes: How are you affected by new services replacing 46A and others? Opens in new window ] 'Assuming its inclusion in the new national plan, then, subject to approval by An Bord Pleanála during this year, and assuming no delays due to judicial review proceedings, tendering for the construction work could commence next year, with construction commencing about 18 months later.' The NTA will also say the construction of Luas Finglas is dependent upon 'the outcome of the planning process and the availability of funding under the new National Development Plan'. A railway order application was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in November 2024.
