Cork street in the running for top urban award
The London-based Academy of Urbanism, an independent think-tank, which promotes the creation of great places to live, confirmed yesterday that the street is in the running for its Great Street 2016 award. It is up against Cairns St in Liverpool and Deptford High St in London.
Clodagh Daly, co-founder of the new Plunkett Quarter initiative, said they are delighted.
“As one of the many business owners on Oliver Plunkett St, it is an honour to be part of this wonderful street which offers a unique blend of shopping, hospitality and business,” she said.
Co-founder Valerie Cahill said she believes the street has everything needed to win outright.
“We look forward to meeting with the academy judges and showcasing the unique history and charm of the street,” she said.
City architect Tony Duggan said he believes the street’s vibrancy and diversity, its combination of traditional established family-owned shops and newer businesses, the fact that it is a lived-on street with almost 40 residents, and has several thriving side-streets, combined to help it make the shortlist.
The city’s head of planning, Pat Ledwidge, said the Academy of Urbanism features some of Europe’s top social thinkers and practitioners involved in the social, cultural, economic, political and physical development of villages, towns, and cities.
“They recognise the most enduring and improved urban environments and we are absolutely delighted to have Oliver Plunkett St recognised in this regard,” he said. The Academy’s judges will visit the street next Wednesday to assess it under a range of criteria.
Oliver Plunkett St was laid out across the marshes east of the old medieval city in 1715, was originally named after the newly crowned King George, and became the centre of Cork’s commercial life.
It was renamed Oliver Plunkett St following the creation of the Irish Free State in the 1920s — and at 525m it is the longest street in the city centre.
Bologna, San Sebastian, and Stockholm are finalists in this year’s city of the year category, with Frome, Halifax, and Margate vying for the great town title.
The winners will be announced in November.
