The Urban Cartographer Likes Cork

THE REAL CAPITAL CITY

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O’DRISCOLL’S IN DOUGLAS SINCE 1885

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O’DRISCEOIL

Note: Ceoil is the Irish for music.

O’Driscoll’s is the oldest pub in Douglas village. It Maintains an old, Irish vibe while retaining its status as a vibrant weekend pub.

Back in April 2019 I read the following in a local publication “A primely set, corner investment property in the heart of Cork’s suburban Douglas village which once was the focus for an €8m bar and restaurant venture is for sale for €1.75m plus Vat, let to three tenants and earning €174,000 a year in rent.” At the time the key tenants were Boylesports, O’Driscolls Bar and a Chinese restaurant, the Rose Garden. The property had previously traded for decades as the family-owned O’Driscoll’s Bar.

PALMENTO PIZZA

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ON CHURCH STREET IN DOUGLAS CORK

Palmento Pizza in Douglas was started by one of the Tavolieri family who’ve been operating pizzerias in Cork for over thirty years and I read in a local newspaper that they have confirmed that they will be opening a brand new Cork city centre restaurant in a unit on the Boardwalk at Lapps Quay which has been closed since 2019.

Lapp’s Island was once an island in the River Lee. It is now joined with the island which forms the centre of Cork City, Ireland and refers to the eastern tip of that island.

It was apparently named after an owner in the 17th century. The island had probably been reclaimed from swamp at that time. In the 18th century it was separated from the main island by a canal which roughly followed what is now Parnell Place. It was fully joined to the main island by 1832.

The Custom’s House, at the eastern extremity of the island, sits on what was called the tongue of Lapps’s Island, and the modern Lapp’s Quay sits on the southern shore of Lapp’s island.

A LIFE CUT SHORT

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ST FINBARR’S CEMETERY IN CORK

Having said that I have noticed that broken pillars or columns are more common in Church Of Ireland graveyards than in Irish Catholic graveyards I did see at least one in St Finbarr’s Cemetery but they are not many considering the it is a multi-denominational (non-denominational) cemetery. Because of a thunder storm I had to abandon my search for more examples of broken pillars/columns. I had intended to return later in the week but got distracted but I plan to visit Cork again in August and that could be my last visit to Cork City as I cannot afford (am unwilling to pay) to stay in a hotel as the asking prices have increased by between 200% and 300%.

Broken columns signify lives cut short or those who died young or in the prime of their life. Often these symbols have been used when the living died suddenly (for example in a road accident). The columns range from classical to modern designs.

St.Finbarr’s municipal cemetery is located at Glasheen Road, Cork City. It is operated by Cork City Council. It opened in 1867, and houses both Roman Catholic and Protestant burials. The cemetery houses the graves of many prominent people and it is also the location of the Republican Plot which houses the remains of many of those killed in the War of Independence/Anglo-Irish War 1919-1921 and the Civil War 1922-1923, such as Tomás MacCurtain, Terence MacSwiney, and Tadhg Barry.

A BROKEN COLUMN REPRESENTS A LIFE CUT SHORT

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ST LUKE’S CHURCH OF IRELAND GRAVEYARD IN DOUGLAS COUNTY CORK

Broken columns signify lives cut short or those who died young or in the prime of their life. Often these symbols have been used when the living died suddenly (for example in a road accident). The columns range from classical to modern designs however I have noticed that are more common in Church Of Ireland graveyards than in Irish Catholic graveyards.

This graveyard is an important part of the history of Cork city, with many well-known Cork figures buried here. Next to the spire is a monument to John Arnott, (1814-98) who founded Arnotts in Dublin. Businessman, philanthropist and former Lord Mayor of Cork (1859-61), he worked throughout his life to develop the industry and resources of Ireland. In the last 30 years of his life, he gave an average of £1,500 per year to public charity.

HOLLAND PARK IN CORK HAS CHANGED SINCE MY LAST VISIT

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CORK CITY TO PASSAGE WEST GREENWAY

There was a thunder storm underway when I visited this area of the Marina.

The first phase of the Cork City to Passage West Greenway was officially opened in April 2023

The 3km greenway provides a high-quality recreational and commuter corridor between Cork City Docklands and Mahon tracing the route of the 19th century Cork, Blackrock, and Passage Railway line. The greenway provides a wide accessible route for pedestrians and cyclists. There are new and improved access ramps such as the one at Holland Park.

The new greenway has access points at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, the Old Blackrock Railway station, Blackrock Road, Skehard Road, and Mahon. There are also additional points of entry by the Marina Park and Eden development.

When I visited Cork Marina back in 2018 the area known as Holland Park was predominantly an open green field bordered by the embankment and Dundonion Castle to the south. A recent tree survey indicated interesting tree species planted around in the open field and looks like an arboretum that started around 30 years ago but not developed any further. This grassland habitat was wild and unmanaged and was composed largely of coarse grass species and ruderals but is more species rich than the amenity grassland found elsewhere in the area.

In 1837, the Passage Railway Bill was passed in the Westminster Parliament but work only got underway in the late 1840s. By this time, the Cork Passage Railway Company had been reformed into the Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway Company. Legislation was passed for this company in 1846 and in September of that year, the company’s engineer Sir John MacNeil carried out the relevant survey work.

The entire length of track between Cork and Passage West was in place by April 1850 and within two months, the line was opened for passenger traffic.

The City’s terminus, designed by Sir John Benson, was based on Victoria Quay but due to the creation of the Cork City Park Racecourse in 1869, it was rebuilt and opened in 1873 on Hibernian Road. The old building can still be seen.

In the early 1930s because of reduced revenues the company ceased operations

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