Former Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Colm Kelleher recently launched Cork City Council’s 4 new social housing developments, delivering 106 new homes for Cork city. Photos: Alison Miles/OSM PHOTO

New wave of houses open in Cork city

Cork has received a massive housing boost with the opening of 106 new homes across the city.

Former Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Colm Kelleher was on hand to officiate the openings, which he said he hopes will be the start of “a new and happy chapter in many people’s lives”.

13 new homes were opened in 7-11 Gerald Griffin Street, Blackpool, comprising of 12 apartments and 1 house on a formerly vacant site developed in partnership with Cahalane Brothers.

The development will be managed by Focus Ireland who which utilise its innovative Meascán (Irish for mixture) Housing Model, which creates an intentional social mix of households with additional support needs and households without support needs, in an effort to foster greater social integration and cohesion.

The development is broken down into 4 1-bedroom apartments, 7 2-bedroom apartments, 1 3-bedroom apartment, and 1 3-bedroom house.

The Lord Mayor then opened a further 16 new homes at Magdalen O’Hegarty Mews on Skehard Road.

The development is named by Cork City Council’s Centenary Commemoration Advisory Group in honour of Magdalen O’Hegarty, a co-founder of Cork City Cumann na mBan.

It comprises 10 3-bedroom houses and 6 2-bedroom apartments and was built by Clancy Construction on a formerly vacant site.

He then went on to launch another 11 new homes at Mandeville Place, Pouladuff Road, comprising of 5 1-bedroom and 6 2-bedroom apartments on a formerly vacant site developed in partnership with Cetti Ltd.

Finally, the Lord Mayor opened a new development of 66 units at Shournagh Grove, Togher, designed by Cork City Council Architect’s Department and built by Conack Construction. The development includes 24 2-bedroom houses, 32 3-bedroom houses, 2 4-bedroom houses, 7 2-bedroom apartments, and 1 purpose-built community centre.

The former Lord Mayor said: “I’m incredibly proud today to open so many homes for the people of Cork. The delivery of homes is one of Cork City Council’s key priorities and I commend all who were involved in bringing these new developments to fruition. I hope that these homes will be the start of a new and happy chapters in many people’s lives and in the long term, will create sustainable and vibrant communities for those that live there.”

Assistant Chief Executive of Cork City Council, Brian Geaney added: “Housing is again at the very forefront of Cork City Council’s objectives and will remain so for the coming years. Despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic and supply chain challenges, our housing delivery programmes are buoyant and remain very much on track. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of all involved and assure people that the city council will continue to lead the way in the delivery of more homes.”