CORK VIEWS

A collection of opinion and analysis articles from - and about - the Cork region by the Irish Examiner's editorial team and an ever growing band of contributors.

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Michael Moynihan
Michael Moynihan: A city's culture isn't just about the arts — how does Cork fare?
Michael Moynihan
Michael Moynihan: 100 reasons for breaking the red light
Michael Moynihan
Michael Moynihan: Animals do not belong on public transport. End of discussion
Michael Moynihan
Michael Moynihan: Cork must start preparing a heat-health action plan for 2027 now
Letters to the Editor: In Cork, LDA looks like a State vulture fund
Letters to the Editor: In Cork, LDA looks like a State vulture fund
The Land Development Agency is acquiring hundreds of apartments for cost rental and social housing — a reader asks what will be left for people who just want to buy an apartment

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026

Irish Examiner view: Patients should not have to cope with hospital staffing issues
Irish Examiner view: Patients should not have to cope with hospital staffing issues
CUH is down 1,050 staff — and that it is not a safe level ahead of the coming winter

Sat, 22 Aug, 2026

Peter Dowdall: St Patrick's Street sets the seeds for a cooler, greener Cork
Peter Dowdall: St Patrick's Street sets the seeds for a cooler, greener Cork
The new greening pilot scheme aims to make the city more welcoming as well as boost business and biodiversity

Thu, 20 Aug, 2026

Michael Moynihan: Having four different Irish translations of Bishop Lucey Park is ludicrous
Michael Moynihan: Having four different Irish translations of Bishop Lucey Park is ludicrous
Translating placenames into Irish appears to be inordinately hard for authorities — but four different Irish translations of Bishop Lucey Park within a brief walking distance is ludicrous, writes Michael Moynihan 

Thu, 20 Aug, 2026

Alan Healy: Are Cork's new apartments built for roots or temporary stays?
Alan Healy: Are Cork's new apartments built for roots or temporary stays?
Are these State-supported units just transient housing or a missed opportunity for vibrant, family-friendly urban homes?

Fri, 14 Aug, 2026

Garry Miley: Cork City's light rail is not a national project — it should be decided locally
Garry Miley: Cork City's light rail is not a national project — it should be decided locally
Cork’s proposed light-rail system didn't make the Government's fast-track list of infrastructure projects. There has to be a more direct and rational way of building it, writes Garry Miley 

Tue, 11 Aug, 2026

Homelessness On The Rise In New York
Michael Moynihan: The evidence is there. The urgency is there. Where is Cork's injection facility?
Evidence from Dublin's pilot and Cork's rising drug deaths strengthens the case for faster delivery of supervised injection services

Sat, 08 Aug, 2026

Irish Examiner view: Cork needs a safe injecting facility
Irish Examiner view: Cork needs a safe injecting facility
People using hard drugs have been overpowered by an addiction so strong that they are completely oblivious to their surroundings

Sat, 08 Aug, 2026

Letters to the Editor: A mother's struggle highlights impossible choices due to Israeli occupation
Letters to the Editor: A mother's struggle highlights impossible choices due to Israeli occupation
Readers respond to articles by 'Irish Examiner' writers including Donal O'Keeffe, Breda Graham, and Jess Casey — as well as other readers' letters 

Sat, 08 Aug, 2026

Church and State tried to silence us, but Gen-X women had new tools
Church and State tried to silence us, but Gen-X women had new tools
For survivors of Bessborough, Cindi Bonny's article was both mirror and megaphone, confirmation that what we lived through was real and an invitation to keep speaking, writes Nóra Flaherty

Fri, 07 Aug, 2026

Letters to the Editor: We fought Church, State, and my own mother to keep our son. We won 
Letters to the Editor: We fought Church, State, and my own mother to keep our son. We won 
A reader tells how she was forced into Bessborough mother and baby home in 1984, and how she and 'the love of her life' battled to keep their son, and went on to build their family together

Fri, 07 Aug, 2026

Vaping e-liquid from an electronic cigarette
Michael Moynihan: Cork City has a staggering number of vape shops among all the store closures
Is the demand for vapes in Cork so high that all of these stores are profitable?

Thu, 06 Aug, 2026

Irish Examiner view: Student accommodation crisis could limit third-level to the wealthy
Irish Examiner view: Student accommodation crisis could limit third-level to the wealthy
Housing crisis has reached into almost every aspect of Irish life — and it could be hampering access to third-level education

Thu, 06 Aug, 2026

Dursey Island Cable Car West Cork ireland
Letters to the Editor: Dursey Island cable car congestion issue can be resolved  
Electronic roadside signs — linked to a real-time car-park occupancy monitor at the cable car — could resolve road safety concerns 

Sat, 01 Aug, 2026

Mayo’s drought ends but ours goes on — let it rain somewhere else now
Mayo’s drought ends but ours goes on — let it rain somewhere else now
When a drought is over, it’s good for us. It frees up a bit of brain that we didn’t know we’d devoted to wondering if Mayo would ever win an All-Ireland

Fri, 31 Jul, 2026

Five For Your Radar: All Together Now, Spider-Man, Ye Vagabonds... 
Five For Your Radar: All Together Now, Spider-Man, Ye Vagabonds... 
The bank holiday weekend brings plenty of arts and entertainment options 

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Michael Moynihan: Homer's Odyssey is universally applicable, especially to Cork City
Michael Moynihan: Homer's Odyssey is universally applicable, especially to Cork City
What could be more Cork than turning down the life of a god in order to just go home?

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

'Do not bury our history beneath concrete', mother of last baby to die at Bessborough tells Government
'Do not bury our history beneath concrete', mother of last baby to die at Bessborough tells Government
Bessborough survivor Cindi Bonny says her daughter was the last baby to die at the Cork institution and urges the Government to halt redevelopment

Wed, 29 Jul, 2026

Michael Moynihan: Heat is now an issue for Ireland, and it will be for the foreseeable
Michael Moynihan: Heat is now an issue for Ireland, and it will be for the foreseeable
With heatwaves no longer exceptional events and with cities typically experiencing much hotter temperatures than rural areas, Cork needs to develop a plan to reduce heat exposure for citizens

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

Letters to the Editor: State should buy Bessborough site
Letters to the Editor: State should buy Bessborough site
Since planning permission to build apartments was granted, survivors and campaigners have been calling for the State to buy the remaining Bessborough lands

Sat, 18 Jul, 2026

In pictures: Kevin Bridges brings Marquee season to a close with phoneless gig
S In pictures: Kevin Bridges brings Marquee season to a close with phoneless gig
Fans flocked to the Marina to enjoy the first show on Friday night, which saw local comics Andrew Ryan and Chris Kent supporting the Scottish comedian

Fri, 17 Jul, 2026

Clodagh Finn: Remarkable story of Cork's Cummins sisters 
Clodagh Finn: Remarkable story of Cork's Cummins sisters 
There is so much more to say about the Cummins sisters from Cork city 

Fri, 17 Jul, 2026

Michael Moynihan: Bessborough ruling proves that we can build anywhere
Michael Moynihan: Bessborough ruling proves that we can build anywhere
An Coimisiún Pleanála's decision to uphold planning to build apartments at Bessborough rids us of all those petty considerations like sensitivity or appropriateness, writes Michael Moynihan, who suggests other places in Cork we can build on like the River Lee, Páirc Uí Chaoimh and cemeteries

Thu, 16 Jul, 2026

Bessborough survivors' wishes being overshadowed by human rights debate
Bessborough survivors' wishes being overshadowed by human rights debate
Some survivors have accepted that the burial ground in Bessborough is the site of their babies' remains and wish to grieve them in peace

Wed, 15 Jul, 2026

Irish Examiner view: We can't ignore calls to turn Bessborough into a memorial park
Irish Examiner view: We can't ignore calls to turn Bessborough into a memorial park
Cork City Council and An Comisiun Pleanála may have failed to see the humanitarian aspect of approving a plan to build apartments on the notorious Bessborough site

Mon, 13 Jul, 2026

Cobh bandstand and Youghal Clock Gate Tower 'need urgent attention'
Cobh bandstand and Youghal Clock Gate Tower 'need urgent attention'
East Cork municipal meetings hear that iconic landmarks are in state of disrepair and that maintenance must be stepped up 

Sun, 12 Jul, 2026

James Taylor review: Angelic tones of 'Sweet baby James' return to Marquee in Cork
S James Taylor review: Angelic tones of 'Sweet baby James' return to Marquee in Cork
If Taylor's voice has aged well, then so too have his remarkable songs

Sat, 11 Jul, 2026

Tom Grennan review: Fans enjoy Bedford-born singer's return to 'the motherland' at Cork's Marquee
S Tom Grennan review: Fans enjoy Bedford-born singer's return to 'the motherland' at Cork's Marquee
String tops, loose skirts, and sun hats were the outfits of choice, with handheld fans working overtime in an attempt to circulate some air in the sweltering heat

Thu, 09 Jul, 2026

I worked in Bessborough in 1996 as a student. So many questions came to me too late
I worked in Bessborough in 1996 as a student. So many questions came to me too late
My friend and I might not have known what exactly was going on there, but we knew enough to want to run away from the place, writes Audrey Hackett

Thu, 09 Jul, 2026

Michael Moynihan: 50 years later, how has Cork changed since the 1976 heatwave?
Michael Moynihan: 50 years later, how has Cork changed since the 1976 heatwave?
Sinking quays, thriving heavy industry and — quelle surprise, conflict about public transport — all made the news for Cork in 1976

Thu, 09 Jul, 2026

Kesha review: Marquee in Cork treated to three-act Freedom Tour masterclass
S Kesha review: Marquee in Cork treated to three-act Freedom Tour masterclass
She's back! Having wrestled with disputes that paused her career, Kesha blasts back with a powerful live show in Cork

Wed, 08 Jul, 2026

Liam Quaide: People with intellectual disabilities have the right to a home
Liam Quaide: People with intellectual disabilities have the right to a home
TD and psychologist Liam Quaide describes how the Before We Die group, and his own research into privatisation of services have fed into the Social Democrats' private members' bill

Wed, 08 Jul, 2026

Cork has Ireland's best city centre, but needs to avoid making the same bad decisions as Dublin
Cork has Ireland's best city centre, but needs to avoid making the same bad decisions as Dublin
Dublin might have all the Nationals and the Royals, but Cork still has the most coherent, strollable city centre, writes architect and planner Garry Miley 

Tue, 07 Jul, 2026

Kneecap review: Belfast rappers get a huge welcome at Cork's Marquee 
S Kneecap review: Belfast rappers get a huge welcome at Cork's Marquee 
Having built a loyal following in the deep south, the Belfast rappers hailed their fervent supporters in 'the real capital'. And the feeling was mutual.

Mon, 06 Jul, 2026

Image Title: The Primary School In Plain Sight is a photographic exhibition by Dublin born photographer Kim Haughton. It opens
Mick Clifford: The Dunderrow women prove Ireland’s child abuse cover-up never truly ended
Two redress schemes were set up to compensate them for the failure of the State to protect their childhoods. Both determined they didn’t qualify for redress for the crimes.

Mon, 06 Jul, 2026

Preparation to the post mortem examination.
Irish Examiner view: Technology removes need for full autopsy
Irish post-mortem services have deteriorated greatly in recent years, partially due to the increasing need, recruiting issues, poor working conditions, and a simple lack of motivation within the system

Mon, 06 Jul, 2026

Fianna Fail Ard Fheis
Legal aid: Solicitors accuse justice minister of Trump tactics
Despite Taoiseach's call on solicitors to stand down from their protests, members of the profession have signalled they are digging in, with Jim O’Callaghan the focus of much criticism

Fri, 03 Jul, 2026

Éidín Griffin: Something about that boat trip to Kinsale helped me overcome my fear
S Éidín Griffin: Something about that boat trip to Kinsale helped me overcome my fear
Kinsale-based writer and performer Éidín Griffin tells Helen O’Callaghan about a sailing trip that had her feeling utterly helpless and very scared — yet ultimately it has made her less fearful and more ready to embrace adventure and new learning experiences. 

Thu, 02 Jul, 2026

Michael Moynihan: Do we care enough to stop flats being built on Bessborough babies' remains?
Michael Moynihan: Do we care enough to stop flats being built on Bessborough babies' remains?
Michael Moynihan contrasts the respect for the children and babies buried at Bessborough to that of the human remains found during building work five years ago elsewhere in Cork

Thu, 02 Jul, 2026

Paul Weller review: Modfather exudes cool in sweltering Marquee
S Paul Weller review: Modfather exudes cool in sweltering Marquee
Weller brought three careers, thirty-odd albums, and an undiminished fury to Cork reminding a generation of exactly why he matters

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

The Lumineers review: Sweltering  crowd treated to a Cork first at Musgrave Park
S The Lumineers review: Sweltering  crowd treated to a Cork first at Musgrave Park
The concert marks the winding down of summer setlist at Musgrave Park (Virgin Media Park), with just one more gig to go 

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Double parking on Handicapped parking spots
Michael Moynihan: Shame no longer exists as a tool to moderate people’s behaviour
It seems shame no longer exists as an effective tool to moderate people’s behaviour, so now public ridicule and embarrassment on social media seems more effective

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Five review: Boy band transports Cork's Marquee back to 2001
S Five review: Boy band transports Cork's Marquee back to 2001
Millennials and Gen Xers were transported back to their bedrooms about — dare we say it — a quarter of a century ago

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

Alanis Morissette - Virgin Media Park - 24/06/2026 - Celeste Burdon
S Alanis Morissette review: Musgrave Park is in her pocket as Cork rocks despite the heat
The Canadian rocker — and two top-class support acts — roused the Gen X audience tonight despite the dead heat

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

Hands holding wooden house, family home, homeless housing, mortgage crisis and home protecting insurance, international day of f
Why we want the option to move to a cohousing community
Ireland has the highest level of housing under-occupancy in the EU. Older people are not holding onto houses that younger families need. There is nowhere suitable for them to move to

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

Kodaline review: Cork fans say farewell at 'bittersweet' Musgrave Park gig
S Kodaline review: Cork fans say farewell at 'bittersweet' Musgrave Park gig
The audience at Musgrave Park (Virgin Media Park) joined the band in celebrating a decade of music — but it was a bittersweet party, as the band will call it a day after the forthcoming album 'We Were Only Young'

Fri, 19 Jun, 2026

Bell X1 review: With 'Good Bones' album on the way, Marquee gig feels like a carnival
S Bell X1 review: With 'Good Bones' album on the way, Marquee gig feels like a carnival
There's something about The Marquee that suits Bell X1 — intimate enough for the quieter songs, big enough to let the choruses fly

Fri, 19 Jun, 2026

FBL-WC-2026-MATCH17-FRA-SEN
Michael Moynihan: A guide to which World Cup team to support based on where you are in Cork
Depending on where you live in Cork, you can choose a country to support in the big FIFA tournament. Just hope that you don't get you know who...

Fri, 19 Jun, 2026

Imelda May review: Marquee mayhem as May invites Cork fans into her living room
S Imelda May review: Marquee mayhem as May invites Cork fans into her living room
The effect of seeing a stage full of domestic knick-knacks and worn-in furniture under warm lighting made the venue feel surprisingly homely

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Gareth O'Callaghan: I took the Leaving Cert again last week. Here's what I learned
Gareth O'Callaghan: I took the Leaving Cert again last week. Here's what I learned
After years of saying he'd do anything in the world rather than repeat the Leaving Cert, Gareth O'Callaghan takes on English Paper 1

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

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