Tag Archives: Cork

Chambers to Fight for Cork Limerick Motorway


Cork and Limerick Chambers are to join Forces to campaign for the n20 between Cork & Limerick to be upgraded to a Motorway and become the M20.

The n20 is a highly significant commercial route linking the cities of Limerick and Cork and facilitating connectivity along the wider Atlantic Corridor.

While there have been repetitive discussions about upgrading the road to motorway status, all plans were shelved following the economic collapse of 2008 -2010.

In 2017, however, the new Government committed €1m in funding for Transport Infrastructure Ireland to re-start the planning process for the M20 motorway.

Seeing this development as a an opportunity to push for additional funding in the upcoming mid-term review of the national Capital Investment Plan, Cork and Limerick Chambers have joined forces and commissioned Indecon Economic Consultants and RedC research to assess the socio-economic benefits of upgrading the N20.

 

Cork City to Challenge Merger plans with county


Cork City Council decided last night to seek a judicial review of “the administrative actions” of the Cork Local Government Review Group which has recommended a merger of Cork city and county councils.

This is also expected to be the first challenge to the constitutionality of government policy in relation to combining local authority areas.

Tonight’s council meeting was addressed by former Cork Local Government Review (CLGR) member Dr Theresa Reidy, following which it was agreed to mount the legal challenge.

She co-authored a “minority report” with fellow group member, Prof Dermot Keogh, opposing the merger recommendation which was presented to Environment Minister Alan Kelly last week.

Dr Reidy told councillors that it was clear from the review process that cities are engines of regional growth and “must have independent autonomous governance to drive economic development”.

A merged council would take decision making one step further from citizens, she said, although she did not elaborate on how this would be the case.

Business groups are divided over the proposal, with Cork Chamber of Commerce and Cork Business Association members taking opposing stands on the report.

 

5 Star Cork Golf Club to Host Irish Open 2014


The Luxurious Fota Island Resort, the leading Golf Club in Cork, is to host the 2014 Irish Open. The magnificent venue twice previously hosted the prestigious event but it has been 12 years since Golf of such calibre has been seen on Leeside.

This year’s event will take place from June 19th to 22nd and will see Ireland & Europe’s top golfers grace the Deerpark Championship Course at Fota.

Former (& future) world number one, Rory McIlroy welcome the news stating that “it is great news that the Irish Open will be played at Fota Island” and that that Fota Island is “exactly the kind of place to showcase what Ireland has to offer as a golf destination.”

Following the announcement there is likely to be an increased demand for Irish golf vacations and in particular to the championship courses on the South West coast.

As well as Fota, County Cork boasts the world famous Old Head of Kinsale Golf Course and nearby County Kerry has the outstanding courses at Killarney, Ballybunion, Waterville and Tralee.

 

 

Cork Week – in Ireland’s Sailing Capital


What a month July 2010 is for Cork from a Sailing point of view. With just a few days to go to the world famous Cork Week at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven, the nearby Cork city is playing host to the boats from the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The visit of the boats has been marked by the Clipper Cork festival which kickd off today with the arrival of the boats in cork Harbour. The boats were led by Cork’s very own entrant in the race the “Clipper Cork”, a very proud moment for the city.

Cork Week has been one of Ireland’s biggest sailing events since the first event 32 years ago in 1978 .
It is a biennial regatta and will run this year from 10th – 16th July, 2010.

Visitors to Cork Week, which takes place at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, in Crosshaven, will be able to enjoy the Festival Atmosphere on-shore, while the participants are competing on the numerous courses inside, and outside, Cork Harbour.

New Irish Sea Ferry Preparing for Maiden Voyage


The new Ferry Service crossing the Irish Sea between Swansea in Wales and Cork on the South coast of Ireland is preparing for its maiden voyage on March 1st next.

The ship that will be used on the Route is the MV Julia and is currently undergoing dry-dock work in Swansea ahead of its inaugural sailing from Cork back to Swansea.

The revival of the route between the UK and Ireland has become reality following a public campaign by tourism interests in West Cork to get a new service up and running. A Cooperative was formed by West Cork Tourism and investors from all over Counties Cork and Kerry along with some from South Wales contributed enough to see the purchase of a cruise ship for the route become a reality.

The revived Swansea to Cork Route will be an all-year-round service, which will carry passengers, cars, commercial freight, campers/caravans, bikes and pets and will run six nights a week, with additional sailings on the 154m-vessel in the high-season.

The Route is being operated by Fastnet Line, a wholly owned subsidiary of the West Cork Tourism Co-op. The company recently launched a new website and are taking bookings for the 2010 season.

Cork Airport to get new ryanair routes


Cork Airport is expected to be the beneficiary of a major announcement on new routes from budget airline Ryanair today.  The announcement is expected to centre around a series of routes from Cork to a number of sun destinations according to this morning’s Irish Examiner. The enwspaper speculates that Ryanair will undercut Aer Lingus prices and could offer deals to the popular sun locations for €60 return.

Ryanair Chief executive Michael O’Leary flies into Cork this morning to make the announcement before he jets off to New York to address an airline conference.

The airline is also expected to base a new aircraft at Cork Airport. Mr O’Leary said yesterday that Ryanair plans to “swamp” the sun destination market over the summer months with a raft of low fares. “We have 11 aircraft to allocate for the summer and there’s a number of airports bidding for them,” he said.
Aer Lingus operate flights from Cork to Alicante, Faro, Lanzarote, Malaga and Tenerife but Ryanair is expected to offer prices for significantly less than what Aer Lingus are offering. Mr O’Leary said Ryanair will “explode” Aer Lingus’s market. He said fares to sun destinations will be higher than average but lower than others charge in those markets.

Lonely Planet names Cork as top vacation destination


The world’s top tourist guide, Lonely Planet, has named the hot places to visit in 2010 as Singapore, Vancouver, Sarajevo …… and Cork.

The Lonely Planet has included Cork in its list of the ‘Best in Travel 2010’.

The listing of Cork inthe influential guide will come as a massive boost for tourism in the region.
El Salvador, Germany and Greece are among the best countries in the world to features, but there is no place for Ireland on the list.

The Irish representation comes in the category of top cities – where Cork is listed alongside Abu Dhabi, Istanbul and Singapore.

The guide says visitors should be able to find inspiration in each city.

Cork Airport is the perfect access point to include Cork in your Ireland vacation.

Ireland this week


Another week, another list of Irish “news”

Eircom to change ownership………again

Kilkenny lose 2 All-Ireland finals on same day

Get Green Energy Advice at the National Ploughing Championships

10 Reasons for Cork to beat Kerry

Ireland gets a mortgage

Micko’Dwyer & Billy Morgan agree on who is the country’s best referee

GAA abandon on-field cup presentations in favour of Hogan Stand tradition

Denis Walsh named new Cork Hurling manager


Former dual star Denis Walsh has been named manager of Cork‘s senior hurling team.

44 year old Walsh, a member of the St Catherine’s club from Castlelyons in East Cork, holds two Hurling and two Football All-Ireland medals.
He was a double Munster winner in 1990, winning both Hurling and Football medals in the province but saw his name omitted from the Hurling team later in the year to miss out on the previously un-achieved dream of winning two All-Ireland’s medals in the same year.

Walsh managed the Waterford footballers from 2001 to 2003 and has coached successfully with his St. Catherines.

The decision to name Walsh was made by the committee chosen to make the appointment by GAA Central Council. It comprised Denis Coughlan (chairman), Jimmy Barry Murphy and John Fenton.

Walsh will be officially appointed in Cork on Monday 30 March.

Cork Harbour Ferry Tragedy – Man arrested


Gardaí have arrested the man that was rescued from the water following the ferry tragedy in Cork Harbour last evening.

Gardai and Naval divers with the help of the emergency services including Crosshaven Lifeboat are still searching for a second passenger after a car fell off the ferry in Cork as it approached  Carrigaloe near Cobh shortly before 7pm last night.

The rescued man, in his 30’s, was badly shaken by the incident but suffered no physical injuries. Gardaí arrested him at Cork University Hospital this morning and he can be held for up to 24 hours.

The incident occurred as the Cross River Ferry service from Passage West was approaching Cobh Ferry Terminal at Carrigaloe.

Cross River Ferries issued a short statement expressing their sympathies over the accident. Management also said they were satisfied all safety procedures and regulations were adhered to. Two separate investigations are under way today.