14 January 2023
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie

The Green Party in Cork have joined calls for Cork City Council to purchase lands in Glanmire to expand John O’Callaghan Park

This week, the Glanmire Amenities Committee called on Cork City Council to purchase a site for sale in the area. The site is part of the lands surrounding Glyntown House in Glanmire and consists of approximately 21 acres next to the existing John O’Callaghan Park.

Green Party councillor for the North East ward, Oliver Moran, said:

“This is an opportunity that I don’t think should be let slip by. The area adjoins the park already in Glanmire and is zoned for public open space. The planned greenway runs through it and it’s surrounded by trees and woodland. It’s everything we should be aiming to preserve to bring an amenity to the area.

“The city development plan agreed in August identified the Butlerstown River corridor for protection and enhancement alongside John O’Callaghan Park. This area of land fits into that. There’s a strong campaign in Glanmire to develop a playground for the area and this site could be an opportunity for that as well. The existing soccer pitches could be maintained and enhanced as part of that plan.

“It fits with the vision for Glanmire in creating a central focus for the communities of Rivertown, Glanmire village and Sallybrook. When that’s been discussed it’s usually been about creating a town centre in Glanmire. Putting a strong amenity like this at the focal point of Glanmire could be a way to do that too.”

Oliver Moran from the Green Party in Cork

Background to the Park

According to CorkNatureNetwork.ie

“John O’Callaghan Park is a medium sized park located near Riverstown, Glanmire. Bordered by the River Glashaboy and Butlerstown River and situated in an otherwise highly urbanised area, the park and adjacent woodland contain a wide diversity of habitats and wildlife. John O’Callaghan park has a playground and outdoor gym area and walking trail just under 1 km in length – not including trails through the woodland located at the centre of the park.

There are many old native trees in the woodland and each tree supports its own unique ecosystem with an array of animals, plants and fungi. The rivers surrounding the park are also a great habitat for several fish species including Brown trout and Salmon, as well as freshwater plants and invertebrates such as damselflies and stoneflies. Buzzards can be seen flying high above the tree line and several species of butterfly and bees can be spotted in or near the wildflower patches, particularly Meadow Brown Butterflies, White tailed bumblebees and Red tailed bumblebees. The park is known to be home to several mammals, including bats, squirrels and foxes. If you are very lucky, you might even spot an elusive otter fishing in the rivers!”