It's a whole other world on this rooftop overlooking Cork City

A rooftop garden on Cork’s northside is an oasis with beautiful views over the city — and it's just one aspect of The Hut, a vibrant hub of activity and engagement for young people in the area

Emma Woodhouse and Micheál O'Connor in the rooftop garden atop the Hut in Gurranabraher. The building is headquarters for dozens of activity groups, including dance, music, rapping, hip-hop, and martial arts. Picture: Clare Keogh Picture: Clare Keogh 

When Joe Curtin began working in the Gurranabraher Churchfield Youth and Community Resource Centre, he was delighted to discover that he could see his home in Turner’s Cross from the rooftop. Sure enough, as we stand on the roof beneath windy, overcast skies, the Church of the Ascension, Gurranabraher, looming behind us, there, away to the south-east, tiny in the distance, is the Church of Christ the King, marking Turner’s Cross on the horizon.

Joe is a youth worker based in the resource centre — popularly known as The Hut — on Gurranabraher Rd, and he’s one of the people who, just over a year ago, helped establish a rooftop garden on the terrace of a building distinctive for its glorious stained glass windows and the metallic kite sculpture adorning its exterior.