The Friday View 14/07
Take a derelict or empty building, make it rent free and see what happens. Also, a fish kill in Kinsale, media exits on Leeside and is a car free day coming? And an absolute peach photo of the week:)
Rent free: Lessons from Poole
When the Counting House on South Main Street was opened to the public briefly a few weeks back as part of STAMP Fest, everyone was invited to climb the stairs inside the historic house to the first floor, where there was an exhibition of art and crafts from Cork-based artists.
However, if you looked out the window onto South Main Street, you saw something unlovely and unloved: a row of derelict buildings. It's not a pretty picture. We've written a lot about the blight of dereliction, as have our colleagues in the local media, and we'll be returning to the topic soon again. I was reminded of South Main Street when reading about an experiment that the UK's largest asset management company conducted on a street in Poole, a coastal town in the southwest of England, that began during the pandemic.
The gist of it was that the landlord gave local business owners and entrepreneurs the empty premises rent-free for two years. The result? Kingsland Crescent, a street that was run-down, has now been revived and is thriving. Restored Retro, one of the new businesses, was opened by a local man who learned how to restore furniture during a stint in a recovery centre for drug addiction.
Not only has the street been revived, but it has also led to more footfall in a nearby shopping centre, bucking the downward trend. But here's the kicker: rents have returned since last April on Kingland Crescent. Half of the businesses offered rent-free space are still there, and those that left have been replaced by new businesses ready to pay rent.
I know about half a dozen artists, craft makers, and entrepreneurs who would jump at the chance to move into a city centre premises on the promise of a rent-free grace period. It's small businesses that give a city and town its character, a point City Hall consistently trumpets - and rightly so - when promoting the English Market and streets such as Princes Street.
When I reported on my long read from St. Patrick's Street earlier this year, one of the people I interviewed was Eddie Mullins, the general manager of Fitzgerald Menswear, who has spent his life working on "Pana". There's a quote from the piece that stands out:
“There’s eye-watering rents being looked for in places and and there’s a bit of reality coming in and landlords are saying, ‘do we want an idol building or have someone in here who can trade?’”
Eddie says the core focus of those responsible for steering the city has to be on maintaining the city centre as a place to shop, visit, do business, eat, drink, be entertained, hang out and explore. And also to live in.
And from that piece in The New York Times: For the landlord, the program was a bet on the long term. Providing free rent to entrepreneurs, even those with no formal business experience, has been part of its strategy to make its properties more resilient to an ever-changing economy and less reliant on big national retailers, said Matt Soffair, who leads retail research at Legal & General Investment Management.
If one of the biggest landlords in the UK can take a punt on Poole, surely it can be done on South Main Street or for a beautiful building such as St. Patrick's Buildings on St. Patrick Street.
Between lobby groups such as Cork Chamber and the Cork Business Association, and state agencies such as the Local Enterprise Office and Enterprise Ireland, surely there are the networks and structures to make an initiative like this happen?
Is Elverys, the new owner of Roches Stores, really going to fill out the cavernous building with runners and rackets? Is there room for some radical thinking?
If so, Tripe + Drisheen would be happy to be right in there in a corner office, ready to report on a radical experiment that has the potential to transform South Main Street or even St. Patrick's Street.
Over to you, landlords.
-JJ
Pic of the week:
Cork in six words: Fr Mathew wears a traffic cone. Thanks to photographer Kieran Murphy for this gem which he snapped on July 4. The traffic cone placed atop the crown of the father of the temperance movement is a tradition that dates back to every other weekend. You can see more of Kieran’s photography here.
Speaking of (great) photography from Cork, we’re two weeks into our photo competition on T+D. The theme is summer in Cork and it’s open to one and all. There’s a cash prize for the winner and we’ll be posting entries throughout August. Thanks to all who have sent in entries so far and keep them coming. Full details here. Competition closes the end of July.
News in brief:
Fish kill in Kinsale: At least two thousand fish were killed on a 4-5km stretch of Brownsmills stream, which flows into the estuary in Kinsale. On July 13, Inland Fisheries Ireland released details of the "serious incident" and confirmed the species of dead trout and eels, but they have not yet released the cause of the significant fish kill, which was first reported by a member of the public.
In a press release, IFI said that they have taken water samples for analysis, and Cork County Council Environmental Department is assisting with their investigation. Fish kills, pollution, or illegal fishing can be reported to the IFI by calling its confidential 24/7 number, 0818 34 74 24.
Media moves: The changes keep coming in the Cork media landscape. Earlier this summer, it was announced that comedian Laura O'Mahony and Olympic medal winner Rob Heffernan had been moved on from their slots on Red FM's breakfast show to make way for KC (Keith Cunningham), who moves over from 96FM. He has now been followed by Dave Macardle, who finished up his long-running show this week.
The presenter of Drive, which ran between 4pm to 7pm, recently resolved a High Court case with Bauer, the German owners of Red FM, regarding his presentation mostly from Dublin. Dave interviewed myself and Ellie not long after we started T+D. We wish him well.
Also, heading for the exit is Philip Bourke, who presented More Music in the midday slot. Philip had been with Red since 2002, having moved over from 96FM.
Holy Wells: Since 2016, retired teacher Amanda Clarke has been on a mission to document the 356 holy wells across Cork. Seven years on and she’s ready to launch her book about her pilgrimage in search of them. The Holy Wells of County Cork will be launched on Friday, July 21 at the Working Artist Studios in Ballydehob, from 5pm. In a nice bit of symmetry, Gary Branigan, author of The Ancient & Holy Wells of Dublin, will be launching Clarke’s book.
The book can now be pre-ordered at a special launch price and will be sent out at the end of July. More information about the book and launch can be found at wildwayspress.com
Shop local: Hibiscus is a new market popping up this weekend in St. Peter's on North Main Street, and it will feature 30 crafters selling everything from paintings to origami, essential oils, and handmade clothes. It's a trial run, and as organiser Justine Lepage told CorkBeo, they're hoping to turn it into a regular crafters market, something which the city centre is lacking.
If you're in town over the weekend, it's definitely worth your while stopping by and seeing the range of art, crafts, and talent that's in Cork. Hibiscus runs from 11 am to 5 pm on Saturday, July 15, and Sunday, July 16, in St. Peter's on North Main Street. More information about the market and the vendors can be found here. Also, check out Out+About for a full list of events and activities happening this weekend.
Council notes: The big news from Monday night's City Council meeting was that the Freemasons acquired a corner of Cork, following a vote to dispose of a corner of Bishop Lucey Park to the all-male club. The arguments presented in favour of disposing of the site were that it was necessary to make the building accessible to all. Dissenting voices - only seven councillors voted against the disposal - pointed out the loss of biodiversity, the precedent it sets, and that it was not the best deal the council had come up with.
Elsewhere, Cllr Collette Finn (Greens) asked the City Council if there is a plan to sign on to Car Free day on September 23. In its reply, the City Council said stakeholders were being engaged, and a meeting took place on July 11 to discuss making the car-free day happen. T+D understands that another meeting will take place early next week (more stakeholder engagement). Could a car-free day be on the cards for 2023? Quite possibly
T+D understands that the position for Cork City Council's Nighttime Economy Advisor has also been filled. It would appear that Cork City Council is the first local authority to fill the position.
Left-wing City councillors have forced a meeting with the Council Executive on the ongoing saga over the closure of Ballincollig fire station. That meeting will take place on July 19 at 5:30 pm. The focus of that meeting is that "Cork City Council resolves to reopen the Ballincollig fire station immediately with a full-time fire service while maintaining current staffing services elsewhere."
Interestingly, the names of Cllrs Colm Kelleher (FF) and Derry Canty (FG) from Ballincollig were both absent from the list of signatories calling for that meeting. The City Council will no doubt shoot back that the fire station in Ballincollig is currently unable to accommodate firefighters staying overnight.
Out + About
Quarter’s Return: After a two year hiatus, Quarter, formerly known as Quarter Block Party, takes place this weekend across the city. Free events will be taking place during the day on Friday and Saturday. It begins at 1pm on Friday, with an Artists Afternoon at the Everyman, while the Circus Factory will host a Brus Perfomance marathon, with three thirty minute performances. More information on the artist afternoon here.
Time, date, place: 1pm, Friday July 14, Everyman Palace Theatre, 15 MacCurtain Street;12pm, Saturday July 15, The Circus Factory, Centre Park House, Centre Park Road.
Ambient gigs galore: Ambient soundscapes break us into Quarter on Friday, with Muireann Levis, Jane Deasy and Ana Palindrome playing the Chapel at Griffith College at 6pm, followed by Flowers at Night and Mantua taking the stage at Live at St Luke’s at 8:30. Described by Pitchfork as “understated and slow-burning”, Elaine Howley supports psychedelic folk singer-songwriter Maija Sofia in Coughlan’s at 4pm on Saturday. More information and tickets here for Griffith College, here for Live at St Luke’s, and here for Coughlan’s.
Time, date, place: 6pm, Friday July 14, the Chapel at Griffith College, Wellington Road; 8:30pm, Friday July 14, Live at St Luke’s, St Luke’s Cross; 4pm, Saturday July 15, Coughlan’s, 7 Douglas Street.
Make some noise: Saturday evening will be a noisier affair, with Belfast post-punk band Junk Drawer, supported by Listening Face, in The Nest at Coughlan’s at 7:30. On Sunday, Fermanagh-based experimental trad musician Róis supports Limerick shoegaze outfit His Father’s Voice in the Green Room, while Craic Boi Mental, Raja Baal and and Cárthach play the same venue at 9pm. The festival closes with Crying Loser and Messyng playing a free midnight gig in Crane Lane. More information and tickets here for The Nest at Coughlan’s, here for the Green Room’s early gig, and here for the later gig.
Time, date, place: 7:30pm, Saturday July 15, The Nest at Coughlan’s, 7 Douglas Street; 4pm and 9pm, Sunday July 16, The Green Room at Cork Opera House, Half Moon Street.; Midnight, Sunday July 16, Crane Lane Theatre, Phoenix Street.
Harp and Pop: Sunwell Tapes are a local, woman-founded music collective with a focus on local female acts and safe spaces for gigs. As part of Quarter, they will be showcasing two of Ireland’s most exciting up-and-coming musicians, Dublin harpist Méabh McKenna and Limerick alt-pop singer Laura Duff, in the calm surroundings of Plugd. Duff will be playing with her full band, while McKenna opens with some mellow and traditional harp. Tickets are €12, more information and tickets here.
Time, date, place: 7:30, Saturday July 15, Plugd, 3 Cornmarket Street.
Sketchy: Test Site continue their summer events with a Sketch and Chat event on Sunday, where people are to bring a sketchbook to talk about Cork city, art, ecology and architecture. The events discuss our roles as citizens of Cork can be in enacting changes in our communities. It is a pay it forward event, which means that they will accepting donations on the day to make sure the events continue. Event poster here.
Time, date, place: 11am, Sunday June 16, Test Site, Kyrl’s Quay.
Fuzzy Folk: For the past two months, new local music collective Fuzzy Pockets have been putting on a monthly show in The Roundy and bringing local musicians back to the upstairs space. They return on Sunday with folk singer-songwriter Ger Wolfe playing a first gig in the city for a while. The support is also brilliant, opener Rua Rí is one of the city’s most talented young folk singers, while Asha is also a talented young local. Tickets are €12, more information here.
Time, date, place: 6pm, Sunday June 16, The Roundy, 1 Castle St.
Talk and Tea: St Luke’s Community Garden are having their monthly ‘Tea and Chats’ on Saturday, at 11am. A community space where like-minded locals congregate, it’s an opportunity to get to know your neighbours, and to get involved in the community. Set in an old quarry, the garden has been at the heart of the community for the past two years, and you can read more about it here.
Time, date, place: 11am, Saturday June 15, St Luke’s Community Garden, Ballyhooly Road.
Lego Library: Three libraries across the city will be having ‘Lego time’ this Saturday: Grand Parade, Blackpool and Hollyhill. Each Saturday lego tables are left in each library, for children to build alone or in teams.
Time, date, place: 12pm, Saturday June 15, Cork City Library, Grand Parade, and 2pm, Blackpool Library and Hollyhill Library.
Creative kids: Encouraging kids to be creative, Crawford Art Gallery is hosting a free summer animation programme, where children can experiment and play with different materials, in the Upper Gallery. You can also learn about making the materials into short films. The events run from Tuesday July 18 to Saturday 22. More information here.
Time, date, place: 2pm-4:45pm, July 18-22, Upper Gallery, Crawford Art Gallery, Emmet Place.
Find this, and that: A huge tree, a white rose, five stones on the ground - find them all. This Saturday, the Digital Scavenger returns to Fitzgerald’s Park and the Marina. The kids event is free to join, but you’ll need to sign up first here. The scavenger hunt will take place at 10am, in the Marina before moving over to Fitzgerald’s Park for a 1pm start. More information about the two events here and here.
Time, date, place: 10am and 1 pm, Saturday July 15, the Marina and Fitzgerald’s Park.
This week on T+D:
On Tuesday, JJ covered the monthly City Council meeting in which a new name was chosen for the pedestrian and cycle bridge to link Tramore Valley Park with Grange and Frankfield. You can read that piece in full here.
On Wednesday, Kilian wrote about Paperboys, the new cafe in the Triskel and other changes afoot in the city centre arts institution. You can read that here.
And before we sign off, we've had lots of new free subscribers sign up this week, which is always great to see. We'd like to ramp up and publish more frequently on T+D, especially from new writers and journalists. So if you can afford to subscribe, know that your money will be going to fund new voices and bring more coverage about all things on Leeside. Have a great weekend.
 | A guest post by
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The lack of any accountability and the paucity of ambition and vision for the city is startling.