Fundraiser launched to help to renovate Lough playground

A fundraiser set up by a local Cork woman is looking to raise up to €100,000 to carry out upgrades and repairs of the playground beside the Lough.

Katie O’Regan, a Lough-native and mother of three who set up the fundraiser, said the playground is in serious need of work.

“In my 38 years, the swings have been changed once ever,” she said.

She said the benefit from an upgraded playground would be felt not just by children who live in the area, but also by all the people who regularly visit the Lough.

“It’s a very busy place, it’s got a big footfall. I just want to see it get the love and care it deserves,” she said.

The fundraiser is looking to raise approximately €100,000-€150,000, dependent on the size of the finished product set out in the tender approved by Cork City Council.

The council has confirmed it will be circulating a tender worth €150,000.

The Lough has received comparatively little funding from Cork City Council compared to other playgrounds around the city in recent years.

In figures released to Social Democrats Cllr Niamh O’Connor last year, it was revealed that the Lough received less than 1% of available council funding for playgrounds between 2016 and 2025.

In 2020, €24,588 was allocated to install the pirate ship play piece at the centre of the playground, with no other allocation being made between 2016 and 2025.

The total spend for playgrounds in Cork city during that same period was €3,229,512.18, making the investment in the Lough playground just 0.7% of funding spent.

Cllr O’Connor said the lack of spending on the playground was “unacceptable”.

“Kids in the Lough and the surrounding area are just as deserving of investment in their playground as kids in other areas of the city. Time is way overdue for a new, inclusive playground that will cater for the growing number of kids in the local area,” she said.

A quote received by councillors in the South-Central Local Area Committee said works would cost approximately €147,550.

This would include upgrades to the swing sets, a multi-tower unit, springers and a seesaw, wheelchair accessibility, interactive play items, resurfacing of the area, and civil works.

The report also said an additional €12,500-€20,000 would be required for fencing, but this was not considered necessary.

However, O'Regan said she will be pushing for fencing to be included as a safety measure.

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