The Friday View 23/02
Two Cork men go head to head in the Premier League, the Event Centre wins a battle it was never going to lose and Rearden's is told to dial it back.
Hello and welcome to the Friday View. Let’s get to it!
Event Centre Roadblock cleared at City Hall: On Tuesday we reported on a special meeting tabled at City Hall to rescind the request for additional funding from central government for the Event Centre. The resolution was brought forward by Cllr Lorna Bogue of An Rabhartha Glas - Green Left and co-signed by Worker’s Party councillor Ted Tynan and Socialist Party councillor Brian McCarthy.
The motion instead proposed to develop a “publicly-owned and operated” facility, as reported by Amy Power in The Echo on Wednesday. The Echo also reported this week that a consortium of Sinn Féin TDs and councillors this week have asked the public accounts committee to “urgently review the Cork Event Centre in a bid to gain clarity on the long-awaited project and to “ensure that taxpayers' money is used appropriately”.
It was heavily defeated, with only three votes in support and 25 against.
Earlier this week, Cllr. Bogue told Tripe + Drisheen that she was not provided with the information to which she and other councillors are entitled.
”This includes the contract with BAM, the arrangements for central government financial support and for concrete information about the design and implementation of the project that a councillor for the contracting authority should reasonably expect to be provided with,” she said.
However, Cllr. Bogue did not attend a briefing held earlier this month for councillors and the media, in which the Event Centre was lightly covered, while the Irish Examiner also reported that she hadn’t attended the briefing nor the CPG meeting where she could have discussed her motion.
Councillors who attended those meetings likely had their fill of Event Centre saga, as the CE, Ann Doherty was repeating the same talking points, but for anyone looking in at the meeting which was live streamed, her defence of the City Council’s handling was helpful, even if she did muddy the waters when it came it came to the question of extra funding. (Ms Doherty refused to be drawn on the exact euro amount of the extra funding, but said the Council had made a recommendation).
The idea of a City Council-owned event centre was dead in the water before it even saw the light of day. The City Council Executive and the vast majority of councillors are still bullish on the Event Centre. But, it’s worth remembering that was very much the sentiment a decade ago when the idea for an Event Centre took shape. Since then it’s remained a shape with no structure. Watch this empty space.
What goes up must come down: We note that Cork City Council has removed the fencing on the exterior of the eastern exterior of City Hall. A temporary structure perhaps?
Palestine and RTÉ…it’s complicated: On Wednesday, Cork-city based musician Elaine Malone shared on Instagram that she had been selected to contribute to a ‘Behind the Music’ piece for RTÉ’s entertainment section. However, Malone took the opportunity to use the platform and highlight the situation in Palestine, and to “draw attention to the horrific genocide of Palestinians.”
Malone initially answered the first question, ‘Tell us three things about yourself’, with “Free Gaza, Free Gaza, Free Gaza”, however, in feedback, she was told to restructure her response in line with the format of the question.
“I edited my answer to the following so as to better illustrate my feelings”, Malone wrote, and gave the following responses:
“1. I’m from Limerick and I believe that Palestine should be liberated from its colonial oppressors.
2. I feel very strongly that all people should engage in Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions of Israeli goods and businesses and all those who collaborate with them in the genocide of Palestinians.
3. My favourite television show at the moment is Pete Seeger’s Rainbow Quest. A showcase of international folk music he made in the 60s after 17 years of censorship during McCarthyism.”
She was told that these answers would not be published, as it was considered by RTÉ not to be the place for those views to be expressed. “My beliefs are my identity and inextricably linked to my art,” Malone wrote, “All art is inherently political and many artists in this country have been vocal in their tireless support of Palestine. Not allowing for advocacy at this time is repugnant and unconscionable.”
Last week, RTÉ asked the Irish Women in Harmony group to remove badges and items of clothing which expressed support for Palestine ahead of their live performance of Sinéad O’Connor’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ on The Late Late Show.
Currachs for Paletstine off: A crew of currach rowers had planned to row down the River Lee this Satudaty to consindie with march for Palestine, but have called of this week’s row following conversations with Gardaí who had informed them of a counter protest. In a statement issued last night, Currachs for Palestine said: “We…feel that it would be more useful to hold our event at another time. The appalling situation in Gaza is the issue which must be addressed and we should not be distracted by a small group of troublemakers.”
Rearden’s refusal: CorkBeo yesterday this week that Rearden’s application for the retention of their outdoor seating area on Little Cross Street has been refused, as it inhibits “access for emergency service vehicles", as well as having "negative visual impact" on the North Main Street Architectural Conservation Area. More development would "adversely affect the character" of the building.
One of the objections to retention came from its former owner and current owner of Clancy’s, Paul Montgomery. Patrick O’Toole of Meitheal Architects, who wrote the objection on Montgomery’s behalf, stated that “as a hospitality professional in the city, and a long-standing advocate of outdoor dining, that (Montgomery) wholly supports public realm improvements to contemporise and enhance the city’s hospitality offering”, but noted that the permission given to Dwyer’s, across the street, is a temporary one. The statement said that any permissions should coincide with those given to Dwyer’s, while the “council can then, in time, on foot of city-wide policy objectives, can make an informed decision on long-term objectives for the micro and macro areas”, while the client looks forward to “the balanced assessment of the application in the context of the greater public realm.”
While Rearden’s Bar sits adjacent to the upcoming Beamish & Crawford Quarter Improvement Works, Hanover Street and Little Cross Street are not amongst those planned to be improved. And while open-air drinking and dining has become prevalent and welcomed across the city, there is some debate online over the division of public and private space, most notably in the case of Rearden’s, but also on MacCurtain Street and Princes Street. Where do we draw the line where the footpath becomes a smoking area?
Cork v Cork in the Premier League: Mahon native and former Ringmahon Ranger Caoimhín Kelleher has found himself starting as Liverpool goalkeeper five times this season. News that first-team goalkeeper Alisson Becker has injured his hamstring means that Kelleher is now in the sticks for a crucial part of the season.
Meanwhile, Grange native and former Tramore Athletic player Chiedozie Ogbene has been a starting player for Luton Town all season, who have surprised doubters who had written them off with their fight and drive. They are currently in the relegation battle though, sitting in 18th place. Ogbene is also reported by the BBC to be the fastest player in the league, clocking a pace of over 36km/h against Fulham in September.
The two met at Anfield on Wednesday night, and it was Luton who took the early lead. An initial shot by Tahith Chong was saved by Kelleher, with the ball flying towards Ogbene’s head for a rebound to make it 1-0 for Luton. However, Liverpool made a convincing comeback to win the game 4-1.
City win first ever Cork-Kerry soccer derby: The domestic football season began last Friday, and unfortunately for City, it was in the second division. A very full Turner’s Cross greeted them, however, as they took the year-old, imaginatively-named Kerry FC, for the first time ever. City’s Jack Doherty scored with a lovely turn in the sixteenth minute, before linking up nicely with Nathan Wood to score a brace within the first 26 minutes.
What looked like it would be a romp mellowed out, with both teams unconvincing for the rest of the game. It wasn’t until the 67th minute that City had another shot on goal. A full house at Turner’s Cross with barely an empty seat left, the attendance was over 5,500. City make the long trip to Donegal where they’ll take on Finn Harps in the second outing of the new season.
Out + About
Inland Sea: Japanese director Kazuhiro Soda will be in The Triskel this coming Wednesday to introduce his observational documentary Inland Sea. The film from 2018 follows a trio of elderly inhabitants of Ushimado, a fishing village in Okayama on the inland sea in Japan. It’s a tale of Japan’s present and future: a rapidly ageing society, rural depopulation and clinging on to the old ways. It’s a different but compelling picture of how Japan is typically presented to us. Inland Sean is presented by East Asia Film Festival Ireland with the support of Department of Asian Studies, University College Cork. More information here.
Time, date, place: 5:30pm, Wednesaday 28 February, The Triskel Arts Centre, Tobin Street
Cork Printmakers launched their first exhibition of the year yesterday, in collaboration with the Cork Migrant Centre Women’s Group. Print + Place features print artworks made at twelve printmaking workshops delivered by Cork Printmakers for women who are currently living, and who have lived, in Direct Provision, along with women who are from migrant and refugee backgrounds. The works featured share their perspectives as migrant women, their ideas and their cultures, in relief print, monoprint and collage. It runs until the end of this month.
Time, date, place: 10am-1pm, Monday-Friday, Thursday February 22-Thursday February 29, Cork Printmakers Studio Gallery, Wandesford Quay, Cork.
Red Sun Alert are a local post-hardcore band comprising of vocalist Julia Pawlak, guitarist Cian Mullane (God Alone, Uncultivates, Dazgak, Last Call), bassist Hugh O’Connor and drummer Dylan Walsh. They play in The Pavilion on Thursday with Other Mother, a young indie band who might be playing their first gig with original music.
Time, date, place: 9pm, Thursday February 29, The Pavilion, Carey’s Lane, Cork.
Dose are a local collective of DJs who create multi-disciplinary platforms to make spaces & events for local talent. They have a monthly DJ set in O’Sho on Barrack Street, and DJs J.bone and Dijaka will be taking the decks from 9pm tonight until close.
Time, date, place: 9pm, Friday February 23, O’Sho, Barrack Street, Cork.
Rebel Reads. a radical, community-based second hand bookshop in the Marina Commercial Park, is filled with hidden gems. After a successful book sale last month, they received over 2,000 newly donated books, and will host a Mega Book Sale on Sunday.
Time, date, place: 11am-4pm, Sunday February 25, Rebel Reads, Marina Commercial Park, Centre Park Road, Cork.
A Matter of Time is the latest exhibition taking place at the Crawford Art Gallery. Focused on time and its effects on the human experience, it includes themes of climate change, nationhood, post-colonialism, appropriation, amongst others. An In Conversation event will take place next Thursday with artists Joy Gerrard and Gail Ritchie, who will talk about their work featured in the exhibition. Entry is free and all are welcome.
Time, date, place: 6pm, Thursday February 29, Lecture Theatre, Crawford Art Gallery, Emmet Place, Cork.
Cork Repair Cafe happens once per month, and people can bring broken items and work with others to learn how to fix them. They return to The Lough Community Centre this month, and encourage those who have anything that’s broken to come and find a way to fix it. Likewise, those who like fixing things, are encouraged to come, help out and share their expertise.
Time, date, place: 2pm-5pm, Sunday February 25, The Lough Community Centre, Pouladuff Road, The Lough, Cork.
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.
In case you missed it: Pádraig O’Connor’s interview with Chef Maedhbh Halton published earlier this week.
Meb's big energy food truck vibes
Originally from Co. Clare, Meadhbh Halton (pictured above) trained as a chef in Cathal Brugha Street (now part of TU Dublin) and has worked in many different kitchens; including The Acorn in Vancouver Canada, widely recognized as one of the top vegetarian restaurants in the world.
Love the Friday view, really informative