cork busarus
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i see the cork busarus is getting a facelift, thank god, it is in a terrible state, it reminds me of being in vilnius. what’s the story with the building, it was probably very nice once.
Bus station getting a lick of paint at last , Patrick St. being regenerated – looks like all of Cork are getting ready for the arrival of Mr Supersaint the one and only Pat Dolan he is one great guy, I hope he leads Cork City to the promised land and that’s from a St. Pat’s supporter.
Basically one of the big points behind the whole city plan was that the bus station was going to be moved behind City Hall (site of the post sorting office) and the train station was going to be turned “around” to face the city rather than hide as it does at present. So that is why both stations were left untouched and not polished up ala Heuston and Connolly. But of course both stations are at the mercy of a *well run efficient semi state*, CIE – so for many many years noise was made and nothing apparently happened. Then CIE announced that they were not going to bother moving the bus station to the new site, and so far have taken FIVE years just to pick a developer they are willing to talk to about the POSSIBILITY of developing the train station. Someone in the Docklands Dev office obviously had a seizure as the new bus station was supposed to kick start that whole plan – this also neatly ties up with Cork in 2005 as Euro City of Culture – and this is currently being used as the excuse to finally push some plans through in Cork (example three major new hotels are mooted in the city centre).
Anyway – it’s all a cover up just to have something that looks semi decent in time for 2005 – the station buliding itself will remain untouched (structurally) and some fancy looking canopies are being put out in the loading area – nothing more.
can we please not call it cork busaras as even that tenuous a link is insulting to the Dublin building…. 😉
apologies for the last post.
I think Cork needs a lot more regeneration than DUblin will ever need. I was there in December for the first time in my memory and was wholly underwhelmed, part of this was the Bus Aras (literal meaning of course) and I think everyone will welcome the overhaul it will receive. Any images of the planned changes online?
The development plan is available online:
http://www.corkcorp.ie/development/index.htmlI agree Ciaran. I was there last year for the first time in years and I was amazed at how little they seem to have been touched by the property boom of the last few years.
Paul, I like the thought that the Cork bus station is a little offshoot of Busaras – much in the same way a strawberry plant will send its tendrils elsewhere to flower…
I find Cork city a depressing place, it needs a little tlc, proper development and investment not stupid ‘thingys’ on Patrick Street or endless development plans.
I agree Niall. Was in Cork at the weekend and it was depressing. I know the weather was bad, but the buildings all need some tlc.
It needs a purpose doesn’t it…. I think thats is its problem. Dublin has its status as capital, Galway has made a good stab at bieng a culture centre, but Cork seems to have languished around without any direction for a long time. It needs a proper defined role.
It could do with a catalyst, i.e. a cultural quarter, or a drinking bit to bring in the English money, it is lucky to have a good airport…… It certainly doesn’t need loads of plans. I was in Cork in 1988, 1992 and about six months ago…. nothing ever changes and the city centre is rough.
Might I suggest also that the National Conference Centre and possibly a big government department and a few headquarters be located in the centre of town?
Cork is the second city – and none of the above has ever happened – why should it happen now? The government basically takes Cork for granted and ignores it wholesale. Example the redev of the School of Music. I aggree with everything said above about Cork being in need of TLC. Some backwater with a cute hooer TD is more likely to get a decentralised government department.
There’s great potential for the place – it has great history, the food, the interesting location of being on an island etc… all underused.
Cork as a whole has kept up with Dublin in terms of the “Boom” – but this came at the expense of the city centre – there are more and better shops and offices in the suburbs. There’s a constant battle between Local Authorithies for commecial rates etc. This is only going to get worse with the Owen O’Callaghan’s massive Mahon Point Dev.
There’s a palpable sentiment in the city these days that enough is enough, and even the City Council recognises where it went wrong. I think there is/will be movement to redress issues in the coming few years.Few suggestions for Cork (Ireland’s 3rd city)..
Isn’t Michael Martin, Minister for health, why not move his department to one of the quays in the centre along with say Department of the Marine or Social and Community affairs?
A cultural quarter with a national museum of something… The national conference centre, call the opera house, the national opera house? How about an aquarium etc….? I’m thinking Malmo or Gothenburg here, examples of real decentralisation
Take complete advantage of tax breaks/urban renewal etc..
Very important is a focal point a la Spire for city centre, say a sculpture, architectual competition, remember an EIS this time.. Take complete advantage of the island thing, paved the roads a different colour, red or green to define it as a place apart
And finally and most importantly clean the place up and clamp down on the scum giving the place a bad name!
I agree that Cork seems to be a little lost at the moment. I cringe when I hear people use pathetic terms such as the “real” capital. Thinking about what StephenC said – I think the defined role could be food capital. The city could build on the reputation of the county for having some of the best restaraunts and local producers. Cork’s also at the lead of the slow food movement (such as it is ) in Ireland. Good market in Cork too.
Cork – 3rd city??? If we’re talking the island of Ireland then yes fair enough, but I wasn’t.
The food angle is a good one to take. The opera house should be promoted more and not a mere venue for hire as it is these days.
As for cringeing at the “real” capital… I only cringe more when I hear the condescending pathetic ignorance Dubs exhibit to the rest of the country.dallas… its like this everywhere, in every country. People in capital cities always have this sense of being superior to the rest of their country and to the second city in particular. It just one of the quirks of the human condition.
I hope that the Capital of Culture moniker proves to be the boost to Cork that it was to Dublin (together with the 1988 Millennium). Its a great opportunity and I hope the CC make as much out of it as they can. They are fortunate that it takes place at a time when there is more moeny and more optimism about than there was in 1988 and 1991.
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