Cork’s northside library branches open fewer hours

Councillors have called for staffing changes to bridge a gap in library openings that see all three of Cork’s northside branches close for lunch.

Cork City Council has three library branches on each side of the city, but those on the southside — Bishopstown, Douglas and Tory Top Rd — open 127.5 hours a week between them, compared to the 100 hours on the northside.

The three northside branches in Blackpool, Hollyhill, and Mayfield close for an hour at lunchtime every day. Of these, only Mayfield has a weekly late opening on Thursdays, but all three southside branches open until 8pm once a week.