March 7, 2024

Community Demands That Uisce Éireann Address 25-Year Environmental Disaster

An image of Barry O'Mahony, standing on Shannonvale Bridge, holding up a pint glass filled with sewage-contaminated water, gathered from the surface of Shannonvale Park. In the background is the River Argideen, and a section of its North bank is visible.

It has been known, since at least as far back as 1998, to Cork County Council, and their successor organisations responsible for Water Services, Irish Water, and Uisce Éireann, that untreated sewage has been escaping from a failed sewage treatment system into a public park in the village of Shannonvale, Clonakilty, County Cork. This area, which serves as the village’s …

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February 28, 2024

More Outdoor Staff Required For Crumbling Footpaths

Photo: A damaged footpath in Dunmanway.

In many parts of West Cork, where footpaths are present, we see a combination of old, crumbling surfaces, and new poorly executed designs, where materials have been used with no assessment of the amount of grip they provide, and insufficient or non-existent consideration for the effective shedding of rainwater. Between 2019 and 2022, Cork County Council paid out €5.6 million …

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February 2, 2024

Progress Needed on Rosscarbery Playground

I spoke to the Southern Star this week about concerns that the redevelopment of Rosscarbery Playground could be seriously hindered by excessive red tape. At the heart of the issue is a lack of official clarity on the ownership of the ground on which the playground sits. A convoluted system of licences and permits is required, involving not only Cork …

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September 19, 2023

Planners Need To Plan Ahead

A photograph of a traffic jam, taken from the perspective of a driver.

As we approach the 2024 Local Elections, I want to start sharing my vision for West Cork. I firmly believe that it’s time that we address the challenges posed by shortsighted planning regulations that have left Cork County Council constantly playing catch-up with the needs of our community. To be clear, this is not a critique of our council planners …

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