Cork City Council go with 'Widen the existing Greenway' option in Rochestown

 

Back in February of 2021, I had a post up about improvements to the Greenway at Rochestown in the suburbs of Cork City. See post HERE. The pubic consultation included two options for moving the Greenway next to water and away from traffic.

The consultation got a large number of submissions and they roughly split 50:50 with walkers, runners and cyclists supporting the waterside route and local residents & environmentalists objecting.

At a recent meeting, Cork City Councilors were briefed on the preferred option by engineers and they indicated that they were going for the easy 'Option 3' which was for just widening the existing Greenway.

From Cllr Kieran McCarthy...

Elected members of Cork City Council were briefed yesterday evening on the Emerging Preferred Route (EPR) for the Passage Railway Greenway Phase 2, with a view to the next public consultation taking place from mid-May.

A number of possible routes were identified to enhance the section of Greenway along the Rochestown Road. A major upgrade of the existing route has been identified as the Emerging Preferred Route. The upgrade will include:

- Narrowing of the traffic lanes aimed at reducing traffic speed;

- The road will also be realigned to create additional space for the greenway;

- The enhanced greenway will be segregated from traffic through the introduction of a high quality landscaped strip between the greenway and the vehicle lanes. 

- The initial public consultation identified other issues for consideration such as the widening the greenway, signage, protection of the Cork Harbour Special Protection Area, native tree planting, pollinator friendly planting and other factors to be addressed as the design for the project progresses. A number of suggestions to support cycling will also be brought forward including bike repair stands and bike storage facilities.

 The project team identified the possible impact on the adjoining Special Protection Area as well as security and privacy concerns as some of the main reasons why the coastal routes behind Island View and St Gerard’s Place were not brought forward.

This means the upgraded Greenway will remain alongside the busy road. Cllr McCarthy's statement also doesn't clarify what will be done to stop local residents using the improved Greenway as a parking area like they do at present.

Warning: Cars are being clamped near Harty's Quay in Rochestown

 

Harty's Quay on the Rochestown Road is a popular starting spot for people running and walking on the local Greenway. When the small car park there is full, many people park somewhere locally including straight across the road in Woodville Estate.

The problem however was that this estate became in effect a second car park and some inconsiderate parking meant that local residents had trouble getting access.

This came to a head on the 1st of March 2021 when cars started to be clamped.

Apparently a lot of people got caught out on Monday. As you can see from the photo above and below, there are plenty of Blue notices up on poles.

If you know someone that uses Harty's Quay on a regular basis, just let them know of the situation.

 

Results & Photos of the 5km Cork Woodland Race...Sun 27th Sept 2015

This event was held in Oldcourt Woods near Rochestown on Sunday the 27th of September. It was split up into two events with 54 adults going in the 5km trail race at 9:30am while a larger number of kids and parents went off at 11am.

It's a stunning location for a race but as anyone who completed the 5k course will testify, it is very tough.

1    Eric    Wolfe    M     22'56"   
2    John    Lynch    M   Tracton AC    23'09" 
3    Jim    Murphy    M40    112    23'32"   
22    Maura    Regan    F    Eagle AC    28'15"   
24    Colette    O'Donoghue    F    Watergrasshill AC    29'13"   
28    Imelda    Lyons    F         31'01

The full results can be seen HERE

Photos...
1) There is a gallery on the Running in Cork Facebook page HERE
2) The organisers have a gallery of the adults race HERE and the family run HERE 

Notice...Cork BHAA Mount Oval Bar 6 mile road race - Thurs 19th June 2014

Since it first started, the Cork BHAA Mount Oval Bar 6 mile road race has been held on a Sunday morning in mid-November. In 2014, it has been changed to an evening event to coincide with the start of the Mount Oval Festival.

The race will be held on Thursday the 19th of June 2014 at 8pm. Organised in conjuntion with the Mount Oval Bar, this one is just to the south-east of the city on nice country roads and is very easy to get to.

Mount Oval is just off the N28 road to Carrigaline. It's very easy to get to from the South Ring Road in Cork City...

It certainly wouldn't be described as an easy 6 mile course as there are a number of hills. I use part of this course a lot on my own training runs for the simple reason that it's reasonably quiet and safe and it's in the countryside. Once the early hill is out of the way, the rest is pretty reasonable.On a nice sunny evening, some sections are really nice.

 As with all Cork BHAA races, the entry fee for registered runners is just €5 and €8 for the non-reg.

Also please note that afterwards, there is a complimentary BBQ to all runners and race stewards! ;o)

As part of the Mount Oval Festival, the race on the Thursday will be followed by a Craft Beer Fest on Friday the 20th and Family Fun Day on Saturday 21st.

They are also looking for some race stewards if you can help out? Contact Greg Moore at 021 4898162.

Course Preview...A full preview of the course with maps, photos and directions can be seen HERE

Results of the Cork BHAA Mount Oval 6 mile road race...Sun 17th Nov 2013

A total of 245 runners turned out for this 6 mile road race in Mount Oval in Rochestown near Cork City.

1 Gavin Sweeney M 31:32 ARMY
2 RORY O'SULLIVAN M 32:06 Clarke Level Construction
3 JOHN MEADE M 32:14 JOYCE WOLFE PHYSIOTHERPY
22 ANN MARIE HOLLAND 0/35 37:29 TRAVEL IRELAND
43 DENISE TWOHIG 0/40 40:23 HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE
50 NIAMH CRONIN 0/35 41:07 SOUTHERN LAW

The full results can be seen HERE

Photos...
1) Kieran Minihane has a gallery of photos HERE
2) Doug Minihane has a gallery HERE

Race notice...Cork BHAA Mount Oval 6 mile - Sun 17th Nov 2013

This Cork BHAA 6 mile road race is coming up on Sunday, the 17th of November 2013 at 11am. Organised in conjunction with the Mount Oval Bar, this one is just to the south-east of the city on nice country roads and is very easy to get to.

Mount Oval is just off the N28 road to Carrigaline. It's very easy to get to from the South Ring Road in Cork City...

It certainly wouldn't be described as an easy 6 mile course as there are a number of hills. I use part of this course a lot on my own training runs for the simple reason that it's reasonably quiet and safe and it's in the countryside. Once the early hill is out of the way, the rest is pretty reasonable. Weather permitting, it should make for a good race.

 As with all Cork BHAA races, the entry fee for registered runners is just €5 and €8 for the non-reg. As per usual, there will the usual feast afterwards! ;o)

They are also looking for some race stewards if you can help out? Contact Greg Moore at 012 4898162.

Preview...A full preview of the course with maps, photos and directions can be seen HERE

Results of the Cork BHAA Mount Oval Bar 6 mile road race...Sun 18th Nov 2012

A large crowd of 271 runners turned out for this year's Cork BHAA Mount Oval 6 mile road race in Rochestown, a jump of just over 35% on last year's figure of 200. As you can see from the photo above, it was held in dry conditions in contrast to the weather a few hours later.

Category results
MEN (registered)...1 John Meade, 2 Tony Kelleher, 3 Dara Canavan
WHEEL CHAIR...Busy up in Co.Clare doing a Marathon
O/40...1 Joe Kelleher, 2 Kieran Mulcahy, 3 Neil MacKay
O/45...1 Anthony O'Brien, 2 James Callanan, 3 Donie Goulding
O/50...1 Alan Carey, 2 Ken Carey, 3 Kevin Boag
O/55...1 Andrew O'Farell, 2 Kerry Constant, 3 John O'Callaghan
O/60...1 John O'Halloran, 2 John Holland, 3 Frank Linehan
O/65...1 Jimmy Murray
O/70...1 John O'Leary
Men's Teams...
A 1    NAVY, 2    , 3
B 1    BORD GAIS, 2    HSE, 3    CORK CITY COUNCIL
C 1    MOUNT OVAL, 2    PFIZERS, 3    . 

LADIES
1    Annmarie Holland, 2  Geraldine O'Shea, 3 Orla Crosbie 
O/35 Valerie Lynch   
O/40
O/45 1 Mary O'Keeffe, 2 Lena Boyd, 3 Monica Twohig
O/50 1 Aine Murphy, 2 Joan McCarthy
O/55 1 Ann Hayes
O/60 1 Mary Linehan
O/65  
Ladies Teams..A 1    UCC, B 1    HSE

Updated 5pm 19/11/12
The full results can be found HERE

Photos...
1) Doug Minihane has a gallery of photos HERE

Race notice...Mount Oval 6 mile road race - Sun 18th Nov 2012

This Cork BHAA 6 mile road race is coming up on Sunday, the 18th of November 2012 at 11am. Organised in conjunction with the Mount Oval Bar, this one is just to the south-east of the city on nice country roads and is very easy to get to.

Mount Oval is just off the N28 road to Carrigaline. It's very easy to get to from the South Ring Road in Cork City...

It certainly wouldn't be described as an easy 6 mile course as there are a number of hills. I use part of this course a lot on my own training runs for the simple reason that it's reasonably quiet and safe and it's in the countryside. Once the early hill is out of the way, the rest is pretty reasonable. Weather permitting, it should make for a good race.

 As with all Cork BHAA races, the entry fee for registered runners is just €5. €8 for the non-reg. As per usual, there will the usual feast afterwards! ;o)

They are also looking for some race stewards if you can help out? Contact Greg Moore at 012 4898162.

On the morning of the race between 9:30 and 10:30am, the Physio Centre will be on hand to give a demo on stretching exercises.

More details in the pre-race preview.