The Friday View 09/02
T+D reveals the cost to restore the 'Firemen's Rest'/ the busmen's 'hut', plus photos of R&H Hall by Noel Sweeney and BAM's commitment to doing... nothing. Plus, our Out+About round-up.
Hello and welcome to the Friday View. Let’s get to it.
Restoration and transparency: Figures released under a Freedom of Information request to Peter Horgan, a Labour Party candidate for the 2024 local elections in Cork city, reveal that Cork City Council has spent over €200,000 on the restoration of the Fireman’s Rest or the busman’s ‘Hut’.
The century-old structure was moved off St. Patrick’s Street when the thoroughfare was upgraded in the early 2000s; for years it sat decaying in a yard in Fitzgerald’s Park. T+D, and others, highlighted (and lamented) its demise. Last year the City Council announced they were going to restore the ‘hut’, which was originally built in Glasgow in 1892, and has had a peripatetic existence in the subsequent decades.
Prior to this past Christmas, it was installed outside Anglesea Street Fire Station, and work is still ongoing at the site. Cobh-based company Queenstown Restoration and Carrig Conservation International have been leading the restoration side of the project.
Is €200k (and counting) a lot of money?
Yes, but everything in Ireland is a lot of money/too much money.
Is it nice to see the ‘hut’ back in the public square? Also, yes.
Would it also be helpful for City Hall (and County Hall) to release information about how they spend tax payer’s money? Yes, and that is essentially Peter Horgan’s point.
“Restoration work of any kind is a specific and expert driven area. It would be beneficial to the city for all payments for all public projects to be proactively published to disregard the need for FOI investigations and something I very much hope to pursue as an active data positive policy in City Hall,” Peter told T+D.
T+D understands that the restoration project was/is being documented and it will be nice to see that project come to life when the ‘hut’ is finally restored. Although, we do note that payments for that part of the project are not included in the FOI release.
News in brief
What goes up, must come down: And so it is, after 90 years of standing tall R&H Hall is coming down. Residents in the docklands were notified that demolition work will be carried over the next six months. T+D regular photographer Noel Sweeney has been spending time with the hulk before its imminent collapse. Look out for a photo essay on the the colossus which we’ll publish in the coming weeks on T+D.
Site change: Sticking with the docklands, the diggers were in this week at the new home of for Live at The Marquee which is very near the old home, but requires extensive clearance and clean up work ahead of the summer programme of concerts.
Sticking with the Marina, from next Monday Cortado, the coffee shop that looks out on the River Lee, will have a new home. They’re moving, but literally across the road. Best of luck with the new location.
Ramping up for the local elections: The Social Democrats currently have no councillor in City Hall, but they’ll be hoping to change that this year as they are putting forward a raft of new candidates including two candidates in the southside and one in Carrigaline.
What is the point of BAM? The Irish Examiner has a piece on everybody’s favourite construction company and the ongoing saga of the site at Sullivan’s Quay (formerly the Tax Office). The update is there is no update, but a BAM spokesperson told the Examiner they are reviewing options and blamed construction costs for failing to build the planned hotel while they had planning permission. They told T+D as much when we asked last year. There’s a script at BAM HQ and they’re sticking to it.
So, what are BAM up to? The waiting game, while casting a keen eye on what plays out play out at the Event Centre site. The City Council have hone cap in hand once more to central government as the project needs more taxpayer money, and we should know more about how the chips will fall on that soon. If they do pour money into it, expect BAM to make an announcement of some sort soon after.
However, it’s not a given the government will commit more public money to the white elephant? Doubtless they will be looking at it from all angles, but in terms of logistics, if a 6,000 capacity concert hall is built on that site, how, oh how, will traffic and access be managed on South Main Street which struggles with traffic on a rainy Tuesday at 2pm? For comparison, the 3 Arena in Dublin can hold about twice as many people but is well served by the Luas. Perhaps we should build in the infrastructure first? And fast.
And finally: Cork City Council’s draft tree strategy is currently in consultation phase which means you can read over the substantial document and leave your thoughts on what’s in there, or what you would like to see that’s not in there. Closing date is February 16. Details here.
Out and About
The Boy and the Heron: Could this be Hayao Miyazaki’s swansong? The Japanese director, arguably one of the greatest living directors, released The Boy and the Heron last year in Japan and from next week it will be playing in the Triskel (the extra good news is they are showing the dubbed and subbed versions). Described as a “semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death, and creation, in tribute to friendship”, it tells the tale of Mahito who is dealing with the loss of his mother, while embarking on a fantastical journey into a world where the living and dead co-exist with a Pazuzu-sounding Grey Heron.
Time, date, place: From Sunday, February 11- 14 daily, all times here, The Triskel, Tobin St.
Artist Orla O’Byrne is currently exploring the maquette collection at St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, and its conservation, as part of her Backwater Artists Studio 12 residency. As part of the residency, she’s giving a talk about the maquettes, which are currently in a raw and unconserved state. The first part of Rock, Paper, Scissors takes place at the cathedral, while the second part of the talk will happen in Studio 12, and will be about the residency itself and the work O’Byrne is currently producing. The talk is a rare opportunity to see these pieces in their current condition, and to see how O’Byrne works with them. Tickets and information are available here.
Time, date, place: 1pm-2:30pm, Saturday February 10, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Bishop Street, Cork, and Studio 12, Wandesford Quay, Cork.
Annie & Mo is a collaboration between Annie Bloch, a German indie-folk artist from Cologne in Germany, and composer Muireann Ní Sheoighe Eachtighearn. They recently released an intimate and honest album, 'When You Get Here", and are playing a belated album launch in Plugd tomorrow night. Support comes from Luke O’Neill, who was formerly know as Damsel. Tickets and information available here.
Time, date, place: 7:30pm, Saturday February 10, Plugd, Cornmarket Street, Cork.
The Douglas Street Business Association hosts an Art Workshop at the South Parish Community Centre with artist Blanca Rice, tomorrow at 11am. Aimed for both children and adults alike, the association are aiming to eventually progress this into the creation of a community mural. All are welcome!
Time, date, place: 11am-1pm, Saturday February 10, South Parish Community Centre, Sawmill Street, Cork.
Skilligan Day is a tradition unique to Cobh, which takes place on Shrove Tuesday every year. Cobh Library host a talk on Cobh Shrove Traditions and piseoga with Pádraig Ó Maoláin, followed by Couples Concert with Jimmy Crowley & Eve Telford. Why not drop in and learn about a unique tradition!
Time, date, place: 11am, Tuesday February 13, Cobh Library, Casement Square, Cobh.
Meabhraíocht is an exhibition by Paul McCloskey, which is currently taking place at the Laneway Gallery. Meaning ‘mindfulness’, the exhibition explores Irish hedgerows and the Irish landscape, using colourful and expressive paintings.
Time, date, place: 11am-4pm, Tuesday-Friday, 11am-6pm Saturday, Saturday January 27-Saturday February 24, The Laneway Gallery, Shandon.
Spoken Soul Sunday is an open mic that welcomes jazz, poets, singers, rappers, writers, slammers, spoken word, rappers in O’Sho, hosted by Mr. Velvin Lamont and DJ Gwada Mike. Known for its relaxed atmosphere, the session runs from 4pm until 8pm. All languages are welcome and entry is free!
Time, date, place: 4pm-8pm, Sunday February 11, O’Sho, Barrack Street, Cork.
This week on T+D:
On Wednesday, JJ wrote about the appetite or lack of in Cork, for an increase in parking fees on SUVs similar to what Parisians voted for. You can read that piece here.
On Thursday, we published a guest essay by Deputy Lord Mayor and Green Party Councillor (and a cyclist) Colette Finn about why she got into politics and why local politics matters. You can read that piece here.
That’s it for this week’s Friday View.
Any tips, news or events you’d like to share with Tripe+Drisheen, you can contact us via at tripeanddrisheen@substack.com. We are always happy to speak to people off the record in the first instance, and we will treat your information with confidence and sensitivity. Get in touch. Have a lovely weekend.