corcaighboy
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Gentlemen – I was sitting here at home this Sunday morning having a coffee and watching the BBC world TV channel (Asian feed, although programmming is similar in all territories). To my surprise, they had a news feature on St. Colman’s Cathedral and the ongoing controversy re the proposed changes to the altar. They included interviews with the local clergy, representatives of those against the move, and the Irish Times religous correspondent. Anyway, thought it might be of interest to you all.
And here is another one (again, I think!). This is the relatively new frontage for a restaurant attached to The Imperial Hotel but fronting onto Pembroke Street.
This is a shot of D. O’ Mahony’s shop on 6 Parliment Street in Cork City. Am no expert, but seems like vitrolite to me. Not too many other examples left in Cork as far as I can see, although West Cork still has quite a few (although quickly disappearing).
Some recent photos of that Beasley Street development….site demoltion was ongoing and the lads were busy knocking down these two facades…I particularly liked the window detail on one of the buildings.
Not sure if all the facades were removed however as I left Cork the day after I took the photos. Am sure Lex posted images earlier in this thread of the proposed boutique hotel that will be going up in its place.This from today’s Irish Examiner…..with incidents like this, no wonder people resort to cars….public transport is an ordeal too far. And what is it about train services and striking workers at Cork….does not seem to affect other parts of the country as much.
Strike at train station derails 2,000 commuters
By Dan Collins
AN estimated 2,000 train commuters were forced to travel by bus and taxi yesterday when a wildcat strike was staged by maintenance staff at Kent Station in Cork.Behind-the-scenes talks were underway last evening in a bid to avoid further travel disruption today.
The striking workers had no comment to make regarding their lightning action.
At lunchtime yesterday, rail maintenance staff, who had been working at the station, walked off the job.
Their unofficial action was supported by other Irish Rail employees in Cork.
The first trains which were affected by the dispute were the hourly services from Cork to Mallow and Cork to Cobh.
The 1pm train due to arrive in Cork from Heuston Station Dublin was terminated at Mallow.
Later in the afternoon, with pickets in place on the gates of the station, the 3pm from Dublin to Cork ran as far as Mallow only as did the 5pm service.
The 3.30pm train from Cork to Dublin was unable to leave Cork and operated from Mallow. The 5.30pm train from Cork to Dublin was cancelled.
The 7.30pm Cork to Dublin service ran from Mallow.
A spokesman for Irish Rail said the company had organised buses and taxis for many of the Cork to Cobh and Cork to Mallow commuters.
At such short notice it was not possible to arrange alternative transport for all intending rail passengers, the spokesman said.
Neither Mallow nor Kerry rail stations were affected by the dispute.
“Every effort is being made to accommodate disrupted passengers with alternative bus services between Cork and Mallow. We wish to apologise for the disruption and inconvenience caused. IarnrAha – No pictures or drawings of the Midleton train station, but I do know Irish Rail will be refurbishing the existing station. Carrigtowhill will however get a new station at a different site. As an aside, the engineers have done most of the groundwork and the actual track laying will take no more than 4-6 months apparently. Glounthaune station will see a pretty advanced track layout with local loops in both Carrigtwohill and Midleton thereby allowing greater frequency. Park and ride to be given priority. Already Glounthaune station’s car park is full every morning, with many commuters coming from Midleton and beyond and taking the train from Glounthaune into Cork.
I can only imagine the planning delays with regard to any planned siting of a nuclear power plant! The politicos would be running for cover and the nimby factor would be out in force. Understandable too I suppose as everyone has an opinion on nuclear power.
Incidentally, the waste treatment plant for the Cork Main Drainage Scheme in Little Island aroused many passions, and Indaver’s incinerator plant in Cork aroused even more. So I can imagine what reaction a nuclear plant would receive. Could they put one offshore 😉With regards to the Airport debt, I don’t think that we got value for money with the new terminal and ancilliary works. Fundamemtal problems remain (runway too short, instrument landing system has not been upgraded to ILS 3 – this despite ORK consistently having the most inclement weather of all our airports, lack of airbridges so that pax still have to run for their dear life in the rain to a distant stand – getting soaked to the skin on an outward journey lasting approx 15 hours is not pleasant, trust me).
The debt issue is symtomatic of our government’s overall aviation policy (or lack thereof). The unions still see the airports (and our national airline) as their plaything and everyone else must do as they say. The cost structure at all Irish airports is still too high. Dublin is a shambles and Shannon is on life support thanks to US troops and such like. We presently have three seperate boards for each of the airports, but one management (the DAA). A complete joke would accurately describe our airport policy at present.
Finally, the funds generated by the sale of Great Southern Hotels will no doubt be funnelled back to the Dublin Airport Authority. I wonder would a third share of that be allocated to partially cover the expense of the new terminal at Cork! Also, I wonder does Shannon have to pay for its new terminal which was completed several years ago (and won an architectural award incidentally). Memories can be selective when neccessary and we can constantly feel sleighted at the treatment of each airport. Nevertheless, this country needs a viable and sustainable aviation infrastructure and it is the repsonsbility of the Department of Transport to ensure that the right framework is in place for this to happen. Sadly, their record is not impressive. As a paying passenger, I detest travelling through Irish airports as they are shoddy, dirty, cramped, inefficient, and with security that is more appropriate for Iraq than Ireland. Rant over!Given the right conditions, people would most likely use public transport as an alternative to car travel. The problem is public transport is so bad in Cork that it is in reality not a viable option. In the few instances where there is a good transport alternative (such as the much improved Cork-Cobh rail service), people will frequent the service. But to expect people to get out of their car and wait for an infrequent (and usually dirty) bus which may or may not come is to expect too much. Furthermore, and as Thomond Park has pointed out on a few occasions, through ticketing is not available thereby complicating matters and making the whole user experience less than satisfactory.
I agree that clogging the roads with more traffic makes no sense, but until there is a viable transport alternative for commuters living in Cork’s suburbs and satellite towns, then nothing will change.
Finally, Cork City Council are not exactly setting a precedent since their new office extension in City Hall includes 300 car park spaces for their own employees. Yet this is the organisation telling all and sundry that people should get out of their cars and take the bus/park & ride, train, etc. They also have the gall to limit car spaces in new developments in the city, but obviously only if it does not include them! With this kind of behaviour, one wonders how we can move forward.Airports are a natural monopoly and that is why the break-up of Aer Rianta into three seperate and distinct entities made sense. For Dublin it would allow them to concertrate on building a premier airport and national gateway for the country. For Cork and Shannon, it would allow them to take charge of their own destiny. Competition between the three airports would also be a good thing, keeping each airport on its toes.
Nevertheless, we have now ended up with an airports authority that is ‘semi split’, with one management (!) and three different boards! Only in Ireland.
Futhermore, here in Cork we have a new terminal (finished but not open…and no date for an opening yet!) that has one only airbridge…so the main gripe that passengers had was getting wet when walking to the distant aircraft stands is not really addressed at all. I am sure most passengers would prefer a more modest looking terminal if they could simply ensure that passengers are not soaked to the skin when boarding a place. Meanwhile Dublin remains the most chaotic and dirtiest airport in Western Europe. I just fail to understand how Ireland puts up with this nonsense. Revolutions were started over lessJungle – you make a good point about a rail connection to Ringaskiddy. A light rail/tram line is an ideal solution using the existing alignment as much as possible. Was just in a city in Northern China where they have extended some of the tram lines. The cost per mile was impresively low and the system works fine and was up and running in less than 4 months! Obviously not quite as advanced as the LUAS or similar systems but then again, it was not road based and thus signalling and other costs would be much lower. The trams themselves use lightweight bogies and have a capacity of around 50+.
The Port of Cork should really have bought the Marino Point NET/IFI complex when it was up for sale. Not only does it have a prominent position in the harbour and have existing berthing facilities with room for expansion, but it had a rail connection (to the Cobh line) as well. All container operations could have been moved from Tivoli to Marino Point. An opportunity missed.A park and ride would be critical as there is a large hinterland and people will certainly avail of the rail service – the stretch from Dunkettle into town is usually a mass tailback during the mornings. In addition, the premium on car parking spaces in the city is also an issue that would make the rail service more attractive. Although there are many housing developments nearby, they are relatively dispersed and unless there is a very comprehensive and frequent bus link, then park and ride is critical. Glounthaune is a good example of how a park and ride can be successful.
The real driver of traffic in my view would be bus links from Kent Station into the city center as it is still a long walk when raining (although the switch to the proposed Horgan’s Quay entrance would negate this somewhat).
Finally, as someone who used the Glounthaune rail service on a daily basis, the addition of new railcars and an hourly service saw an upsurge in usage. In the bad old days, the train would often break down, not appear, be delayed…and of course if you missed the train, you would have a nice two hour plus wait for the next one! No wonder people only used the train as a last resort.TP – I wonder how they will engineer a park and ride at Dunkettle giving the confined space there. In fact, access will be problematic as it next to probably the buseist stretch of the Glanmire road. The existing station platform (currently unused) is sandwiched between the Lee Tunnel entrance/exit and the Glanmire roundabout. Not sure how a pedestrian can access the revived station, unless there is a large overbridge for pedestrians. But even then, I wonder where they could put the park and ride. I was under the impression that the land opposite the station was part of the Dunkettle House development.
@Micko wrote:
I’m guessing this is why there is an extension to the Youghal line which passes over the tunnel with the Dublin line ?
Spot on Micko. In fact, it was owned by the scouts and parts of the old platform were still there when I was a wee lad many moons ago.
I think this was metioned way back, but the Albert Quay webworks development currently being built by Howard was the old terminus of the West Cork line. The shunting yards extended into what was until recenlty the An Post sorting office and will soon be the Eglinton St residential tower. Interestingly, there was a link line connecting Kent Station to Albert Quay. This link traversed the Brian Boru Bridge (think that is the name, correct me if wrong) and an allignment to Kent.
Capwell Station now serves as the Bus Eireann depot but used to be the terminus of the Macroom Line I believe.
The Crosshave Line terminus is not far from Albert Quay and the original building is still in situ although used as a commercial premises presently. The Terminus for the Youghal Line was originall on Summerhill North but changed to Kent when that station opened.
Think I have covered all the stations there, but please correct me if I am wrong with regards to any of the above.Thomond Park – What’s the story with your namesake in Limerick. Last I heard, they had problems securing sites which was in turn limiting their expansion plans.
Re Dalymount – I am not privy to the Bohs deal, but it sounds too good to be true. As far as I was aware, the FAI wanted Dalymount to be one of the key football gounds in the city, to be shared by Bohs and Shelbourne. Rovers new home at Tallaght being the other, to be shared by Rovers and St. Pats. Thus, Richmond Park at Inchicore and Shels Tolka Park were to be consigned to the same fate as Milltown. This move by Bohs throws a spanner in those particular plans I guess.
In relation to Bohs moving, I guess the only thing I can say is that at least they will only move when the new stadium at Castleknock is completed (unlike Rovers, who went nomadic the moment the ground shut). I personally would prefer to see Dalymount redeveloped properly…it is one of the few city center football grounds. On the flip side, it is Bohs’ ground and if they want to flog it and get a spanking new stadium with a large population base, then why not. Only thing is, I imagine that the planned 10k seat stadium will be relatively basic, have the atmosphere of a cow shed, and fail to attract a substantial following. I hate to say it, but league of Ireland clubs rarely attract attendances of over 5k.I like that first picture of yours GregF….the Spire looks quite good in that photo….very imposing presence. Interestingly….the events in Dublin barely got mentioned over here in Asia at all…and the mentions it did get were largely down to Sunday being a slow news day. Several of my Chinese friends were wondering why the police did not open fire!!! And if anyone has ever been to Korea, protests there are a common event….blood, riot troops, water cannons, and general mayhem. Those Koreans are full on….would probably put our bunch of heavies to shame.
