Renovation work and affordability draws the players, Trish Dromey finds.

It was an out-of-the-blue phone call from an American that led to a space observatory being built in Cork City. Nine years on, and the project is being applauded worldwide for its work with children, writes John Tynan

Trish Dromey reports on a Victorian vintage cottage in Cork’s Ballintemple. 

Tommy Barker visits a suburban Cork city semi-d that’s had a thorough makeover both inside and out.

Twenty years after it hit national headlines, set political and business shock waves and repercussions that saw Ministerial resignations, tribunals and indirectly the demise of a serving Taoiseach, Cork City’s Horgan’s Quay site is back up for grab, openly this time, by tender.

WHERE in Cork’s Blackrock would you get a six-bed, four en suite house for offer in the region of €295,000?

There’s a whole lot more house now at 42 Calderwood than when first built back in the 1970s.

As ideal for traders-down as for starters-out is the ground floor apartment at 1 Pinecourt, on Cork’s Church Road, Blackrock and just off the Skehard Road.

A walk-in job with very good interiors, this Cork suburban semi is likely to top €425,000, writes Tommy Barker.

THERE’S going to be serious viewing interest in the Edwardian semi-d called Lynton, going by the early signs — phonecalls from the moment a sale board went up, as well as the impact of a very similar house sale a few doors away earlier this year.

The environment minister wants to see concrete progress on the first boundary extension for Cork City in almost 50 years — before next year’s local elections.

DOUGLAS, CORK €395,000

Cork City Council is to re-examine the possibility of investing public money in an events centre.

BALLINLOUGH, CORK €340,000

DONERAILE, CORK €70,000

Cork’s city manager has released an internal planning probe ordered by the ex-environment minister, John Gormley, almost two years ago.

YOU could probably fit a tennis court in the back garden of this suburban home — the auctioneers claim it’s “a spectacular 170’ long.”

CORK GAA officials say talks on the purchase of Showgrounds land to facilitate the redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh should reach an amicable solution “reasonably quickly.”

A SCHOOL at the centre of bitter controversy over plans for a new building has invited public representatives to an open day today to hear its side of the story.

MANAGEMENT at the Blanchardstown Centre in Dublin have denied that a row over rents is to blame for the loss of more than 100 jobs.

DOES the disposal of the milking herd at Rockrohan, Carrigrohane Co Cork presage the sale of the 285-acre farm?

PARENTS who have been campaigning for almost 20 years for a permanent new school for their children are taking their fight to the streets.

PLANNING permission for a €50 million events and concert centre for Cork city is set to be lodged this month: if approved, it could be hosting shows in two years time.

AS THE first anniversary of the devastating floods that hit Cork approaches, I would like to set the record straight on what was done at government level to deal with the aftermath, and to outline the consequences of dealing with such situations as demanded by “soapbox” politicians from opposition parties eager to peddle their “snakeoil” for political gain.

ABOUT 24 hours after Cork flooded last year, the then city manager Joe Gavin informed me that the Minister for the Environment was coming to Cork the following day to inspect the damage.

ALREADY extended, but also dated and needing upgrades, is the four-bed semi-d, number 27, Browningstown Park East.

CORK’S new city manager has warned that reduced funding and staff numbers will pose significant challenges in the years ahead.

HUNDREDS of mourners from the world of politics, business and the GAA gathered at St Michael’s Church, Blackrock, Cork, yesterday for the funeral of former city manager Jack Higgins.

WARM tributes were paid last night to former Cork and Limerick city manager, Jack Higgins, with councillors describing him as “very efficient public servant” and “a strategic thinker”.

ALMOST 200 people gathered at a special function in Cork last night to pay tribute to Joe Gavin, who is retiring after 10 years as city manager.

A MASSIVE €750 million regeneration project for one of the country’s most iconic industrial sites was unveiled last night with the promise of up to 1,200 construction jobs.

FREE parking on Saturday mornings, coupled with reduced rates and service charges, could help save jobs in struggling Cork city centre retail businesses.

THE regeneration of Cork’s sprawling docklands remains a government priority, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation insisted yesterday.

CORK’S city manager said City Hall has nothing to fear after submitting a detailed report on foot of a planning probe announced by Environment Minister John Gormley.

THE Cork County Board may need three-quarters of city councillors to vote for their planned re-development of Páirc Uí Chaoimh if it is to get the go-ahead.

THE biggest shareholder in the troubled Cork Opera House — Cork City Council — voted full confidence in the theatre’s board of directors last night.

THE number of people on Cork city’s social housing waiting list has for the first time passed the 8,000 mark.

CORK’S political leaders have joined forces to secure Government funding for the design of a bridge which could unlock the city’s docklands for regeneration.

A CONTROVERSIAL Cork City Council vote on the future of Páirc Uí Chaoimh does not have any legal implications for councillors yet, the city manager has said.

THE Lord Mayor of Cork has called a meeting of the city’s TDs as part of a new drive to secure Government funding for an €80 million bridge that will help kickstart the city’s docklands regeneration.

A FIANNA FÁIL councillor has demanded an apology from the Environment Minister for the way he announced a planning inquiry last week.

THE Office of Public Works is fast-tracking a two-pronged flood-defence project for Cork city, it emerged last night.

THE board of Cork Opera House should be left alone to sort out its financial crisis, city manager Joe Gavin said last night.

CONCERNS have been raised that some of Cork’s city councillors could face legal action following a controversial vote on the future of Páirc Uí Chaoimh.