City chief asked to step in as lane closed in standoff

CORK’S city manager has been asked to intervene in a standoff which has forced the closure of a famous lane for more than a month.

Lover’s Walk in Montenotte was closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic early last month after the partial collapse of an old wall.

City council engineers closed the road amid concerns about the stability of the remaining wall.

There are also concerns for the integrity of other walls in the area, some of which could be several hundred years old.

The damaged wall runs along the site of historic Woodhill House, where Robert Emmet’s lover Emma Curran once lived.

Ruth Hegarty, whose mother lives in the home, said last month that engineers and insurance assessors were examining the problem to establish the exact cause of the collapse.

She said they were awaiting the outcome of these reports before deciding on a course of action.

It could cost up to €100,000 to repair the wall and the local authority (Cork City Council) should take some responsibility, she said.

But a council spokesman said it is their view it is the owner’s responsibility to restore the wall.

Two local councillors raised the issue at a council meeting on Monday night.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Tim Brosnan urged officials to resolve the situation quickly.

Local Fine Gael Cllr Dara Murphy, who raised concerns about the issue last month, called on City Manager Joe Gavin to intervene.

This situation needs someone in authority to step in, he said.

He said he had serious concerns that one of the main roads in the area has been closed for several weeks and he urged officials to resolve the situation quickly.

Mr Gavin said he would examine the situation in an effort to resolve the issue.