Patience boils over in Cork’s dirty water

Cork city continues to face water discolouration and supply problems with Uisce Éireann now being urged to answer questions at a public meeting on Leeside.

City councillors from the Progressive Alliance — Labour, Green, and Social Democrats — are calling on Uisce Éireann to explain why the problems have not been fixed. They also want clear timelines for repairs, better communication with residents, and accountability for the utility’s performance.

The councillors have claimed that the issues have worsened since the new water treatment plant opened on Lee Road a few years ago.

Labour Party Cllr Peter Horgan told the Cork Independent: “Confidence within the general public of Uisce Éireann remains low to non-existent. This is why I, along with my Labour Party colleagues and colleagues in the Green Party and Social Democrats are seeking Uisce Éireann management to return to answer questions on discolouration, pumphouse...

Sgt Twomey praised the area: “Mahon is a vibrant community now. It’s a very different place compared to 20 years ago. Antisocial behaviour still exists in pockets, but it has lessened thanks to proactive policing and the work of community groups. The area has also improved massively, with better roads and facilities, thanks to the excellent work of local councillors.”

At the forum, residents raised concerns ranging from broken glass, speed limits, and alcohol use, to overhanging trees, smells, and noise in the neighbourhood.

Independent Cllr and former Lord Mayor Kieran McCarthy said: “People want more gardaí visible in the community—more boots on the ground in Mahon and Blackrock. That’s the clear message that needs to go to the new central policing forum. It’s upsetting to hear someone say they can’t let their children play on the green, but it’s good that gardaí heard that directly.”

He added: “In any community there will be a few bad eggs. Some of those were discussed tonight. The gardaí are working on them through the courts and otherwise. In total, maybe four or five cases of antisocial behaviour came up. It wasn’t 100.”

Cllr McCarthy also raised concerns over the future of such forums, as central government is reviewing them. However, he welcomed the possibility of funding for community initiatives: “There were good suggestions tonight, like using funding for defibrillator training. That could make a real difference. We meet four times a year at the moment, and I’d love to see that increase to five or more, because people’s voices really matter.”

Fine Gael Councillor Des Cahill and Green Party Councillor Honore Kamegni, along with other city council representatives, also highlighted ways for residents to get involved.

“I joined the Mahon Tidy Towns group over a year ago. Mahon today is very different to what it was then. When I first started, I would come back on Saturdays with two heavy bags filled with rubbish from the streets. Now, most weekends, I barely fill even one bag. That shows the awareness is working,” said Cllr Kamegni.

“Mahon used to be a place nobody wanted to come to, a place nobody wanted to talk about. But today, it’s changing. We’re not there yet, but it’s our priority to make Mahon a better place for everyone to live—and that’s what we’re working to achieve.”

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.