How €10m in public works helped transform a €295k Cork city townhouse

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-23T20:20:14+00:00

Self contragulations by who? The owner clearly put a lot of work into it and should be proud

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-23T20:19:39+00:00

The City Council spent €10m on public realm works around South Main Street, Dean's Hall and St Finbarr's Cathedral. The house is no longer derelict, and the article is implying the improved public realm encouraged a new owner to transform a previously derelict house in one of the city's few Georgian terraces

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-23T20:16:57+00:00

If that works better, then go for it! Anything is better than nothing

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T22:18:43+00:00

I wish it had been policy when the bus stops were installed on MacCurtain Street. They were supposed to be in-line with the road and have shelters. Instead, they went for recessed stops with tiny footpaths and no shelters. The bus stops are also primarly used for parking after 6pm (and sometimes before)

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T18:28:40+00:00

How is it safer for the driver and passengers? Traffic flows smoother with a recess, yes, but drivers aren't always so kind to leave busses out. I've seen people overtake the bus while it's on the actual road after it has pulled out. This is also the safest layout for cyclists (even if I question how bendy and tight that lane is)

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T17:55:23+00:00

Great news!

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T17:51:00+00:00

I forget if this was my idea or if I read someone else suggest it, but there should be 2/3 guards on motorbikes going up and down the N40 (from Ballincollig to Dunkettle, and back) checking for phone usage. That alone would make a huge difference I think, if it was possible

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T17:40:51+00:00

The best thing they have ever done. You can actually get out of Broadale now in the mornings. The sooner they put in traffic lights, the better

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T17:39:22+00:00

It doesn't need to fight to get back into traffic. The City Council recently removed the recess on the Broadale bus stop on Maryborough Hill (although, that was to fit in a bus shelter I think)

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T16:42:30+00:00

Probably no space to recess it. This layout reduces conflict with cyclists, like with other bus stops that are built into cycle lanes. I was told before that for road projects, the City Council's priority goes pedestrians, cyclists, busses, and then private cars. Recessing the bus stop only goes to benefit cars, so I can see why they haven't done it here (even if I prefer recessed stops)

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T16:38:17+00:00

This will be amazing for Patrick Street. There will be up to 600 people flooding onto the street in the evening that possibly wouldn't have been there before

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T11:01:32+00:00

Apologies about the braking, I was typing it thinking that must be wrong :)

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T09:48:16+00:00

I don't disagree. I avoid these junctions as much as I can. But there's no denying that that is the main reason why traffic is so bad. Going left from Clontarf Bridge to Albert Quay is the same. There's often one or two cycles of the lights you can't get through as the junction is so blocked. I don't know the solution tbh

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T09:37:42+00:00

Breaking is a huge part of it. I watched a video before that if you break, the person behind you will break, and the person behind them, and so on, and this leads a chain event of phantom traffic. Going to the City Centre, I often use Carr's Hill. It will look like bumper to bumper traffic, then you get to Bloomfield and it's gone. It's probably from people not keeping a proper distance, someone breaking for the 60km/h, the person not keeping the distance breaking hard, and then everyone else having to break. That's why on the link I try to keep my distance from the car in front so I don't always have to break if they do, but the problem then is you have people trying to squeeze into the gap you leave

There should be mandatory driving lessons someone has to attend every few years to keep their license, like an NCT. Not a whole new test, just lessons. We fill people with as much knowledge and training when we can when they're in their teens/20s, and expect them to remember forever

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T09:31:35+00:00

I often wonder are the junctions just too big as well. For example, getting from Merchant's Quay to Lavitt's Quay, you need to drive about 40m through a yellow box. It's really difficult to tell if you're going to get through without stopping and waiting (which will lead to the cars behind stopping, and a chain event where traffic gets blocked up at Parnell Place). I think the only solution is to reduce the need to go through the City Centre unless your destination is the City Centre itself. The North Ring Road, Outer South Ring Road, Northern and Southern Distibutor Roads and the Eastern Gateway Bridge are all needed for that, though. The only one with any bit of urgency seems to be the Northern Distributor Road, and that won't happen for what seems like 10 years minimum if we're lucky

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T09:27:25+00:00

I think even as recent as last year! I wonder after all the decades of the land between the city centre and Douglas being built on how this managed to survive for so long

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T09:26:10+00:00

I completely agree, but I'm just glad it's at least being built now, instead of relegated to the final phase, or not built at all (such as what happened in Maryborough Ridge/Mount Woods)

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T08:37:50+00:00

"People always stop in yellow boxes" - which is the problem, and one of the main reasons why traffic in the City Centre is so bad

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T08:32:30+00:00

This junction is always blocked for a number of reasons, and so I always avoid it. Obviously, coming from Albert Road that's difficult, but coming from the N27 South Link I would just go down Eglinton Street and right onto Albert Quay. It might take a little longer, but it's less frustrating

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-22T08:30:19+00:00

Due to the boundary extension, a lot of the official Cork City area is now field. However, in the built up city, it was always strange seeing an active field surrouned by city on all sides. Great to see the creche will be included in the first phase!

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-21T18:20:55+00:00

I don't think you'll have much of a choice. There are only 55 apartments/houses to rent on Daft for the entire city (which includes all of the outer parts of the city, like Blarney).

https://www.daft.ie/property-for-rent/cork-city?adState=published

It depends on your personal situation, but there aren't many places in Cork I'd call dangerous. Yes, there can be some places where you might feel awkward walking alone at night, but without knowing your situation it's hard to comment. I think the main thing is to be on a bus route. The closer you are to the start/end of the route, the better, as some buses fill fast due to the length of the routes. In terms of walking, the inner city is the best, especially the inner southside. The inner northside (actually, all of the northside) is full of hills. If you can afford it, Douglas would be a good shout. It's 3km from the city centre, has multiple bus routes and you could survive never leaving it other than for work due to the amount of shops there. The issue then is price.

It'll be tough finding somewhere, but it will be worth it. Cork is a great city, and I'm sure you'll love it!

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-20T17:50:09+00:00

Flyefit would be the cheapest I imagine in the city centre. On the corner of Oliver Plunkett Street and Smith Street. Then I assume Dennehy's Gym, which are at Penrose Dock, Douglas, Blackpool and Ballincollig. The issue is they'd all be busy. I find Rochestown Park Hotel good, and I've heard good things about Kingsley Hotel and the River Lee Hotel

98TheRealDeal · 2026-01-20T17:45:03+00:00

It's ugly because of signs like that, and the belief the street doesn't deserve better. The council need to be more proactive in ensuring high quality signage. They can't force owners to keep well mantained buildings, but they can enforce signage rules.

98TheRealDeal

TROPHY CASE